Loose Parts Amazing Tools for Learning Loose parts are a wonderful way to stimulate your child’s imagination. The endless ways to use the materials will keep your child busy for hours! Like the open-ended toys LCCAA Head Start recommends for gifts, loose parts can be played with in a wide variety of ways. Loose parts are the ultimate open-ended toy because they can be found in the home and in nature, which is good news for your wallet. Our curriculum, Creative Curriculum, encourages the use of loose parts such as stones, keys, bottle caps and other found objects that are interesting to
children. The parts can be used to sort, count, build or even in art collages.
LCCAA Head Start teachers received training at the beginning of the month from Lisa Daly who has written several books on using loose parts. These activities easily extend to the home environment. To stimulate your child’s creativity, take a basket around your home or outdoors to create a collection of things that are interesting to him or her. Let your child lead you, only prohibiting items that are too small (choking hazard) or unsafe in other ways.
in every part of the house and can be as big as a blanket or as small as a cupcake liner. After you have gathered a variety of items, the next thing you need is time. Allow your Loose parts can be found child the time to explore,
experiment with and find ways to use the gathered materials. Ask your child’s teacher for ideas on how to use loose parts. You can also look for Daly’s books at your local library.
JVS Students Donate Shoeboxes to Head Start Lorain County JVS juniors in the Early Childhood Education program gave back this holiday season by providing Head Start students with a Shoebox Christmas. The students worked with their Lorain County JVS preschoolers, helping them pick a theme for their shoebox, wrapping it in paper and decorating it to match the theme. “The preschoolers take the box home and with their parents’ help, they fill it with things that little girls and boys might need like toothbrushes and socks, and then some little toys and fun things too,” explained Grayson Gifford, a JVS junior from the Firelands district. “This project is our way of giving back to the community.”
The shoeboxes and gifts were given to families at LCCAA Head Start sites in Wellington, LaGrange and Firelands. “Hilary and I have been working together for years,” said LCCAA Head Start Education and Disabilities Specialist Jennifer Bartlebaugh. “We love and value our partnership with Lorain County JVS and it’s a great way for students to get handson job experience.” JVS Preschooler, Quinn Mitcheff, is four years old and was excited to talk about her shoebox. “I made a “I’m so happy that my students unicorn box for a very special friend can do this community service I don’t know! My box is pink, and project,” said Hilary Duffala, Early I put unicorns on it and put unicorn Childhood Education instructor. stuff in it!”
