At The Rowdy Ladybug, we’re BIG fans of open-ended play. It builds creative, resilient brains and confident, independent kids. But what IS “open-ended play?” Chances are, your kids are already doing some of this—and you can help them do more by providing simple, inexpensive items and stepping back to let them investigate on their own.
What do you imagine when you hear the word “playful?” That comes pretty close to defining open-ended play: it is child-led play for its own sake, without a specific goal. There’s no “correct” result, no winners and losers, or even a clear end point. For a great everyday example, think about the many ways in which a kiddo plays with a stick: it can be a magic wand, a horse, a walking cane, or even a tool for digging in the dirt.
Open-ended play provides some wonderful benefits:
- Without a specific goal or single correct result, all the “instructions” come from the child him/herself! This builds creativity and confidence.
- Because the kiddo is in charge, this can build some independence and allows for choices.
- Tinkering around builds not just “outside the box” innovative thinking and problem-solving skills, but also builds patience and resilience.
- If a playmate is involved, it can build social skills like sharing and cooperation, too!
All of these “soft” skills can be the beginning of lifelong creativity. If you talk to someone who solves problems for a living (or a hobby!)– like a scientist, an engineer, an inventor, or an artisan– at some point they’ll tell you about a time they found a great solution that “just came to them” while they were doing something else. Perhaps they were in the shower… or putting together bits and pieces… and they found something that worked! Those “thinking out of the box” moments are like an adult form of open-ended play.
One great thing about open-ended play: it can occur with simple and inexpensive toys! (What’s not to like?) For example: natural items (sticks, stones, pinecones), blocks, clay, art supplies (without a defined goal or project), empty clean containers, and cardboard boxes—all of these naturally lend themselves to fun, exploratory play without rules or a preset goal.
Other great household options for play are pillows and blankets. They can become beds, forts, or even a nest for a baby chick (my daughter’s favorite as a toddler!). And COSTUMES (of course!) are a perfect match for open-ended play, especially simple pieces that can be combined different ways (think hats, crowns, capes, and masks, rather than character-branded multi-piece costume sets). If you’d like to see my favorites, hop on over to my shop.
The trick to encouraging open-ended play is to step back and let your kiddos take the lead.
- Try not to take charge, correct them, fix things, or distract the children. Bite your tongue if you must, or drink some coffee and just watch. (I sometimes find it helps to play circus music in my head…)
- At first, you might even tolerate a little bit of clutter as the kids play; try not to let your urge to tidy up break their flow. (Drink the coffee… drink the coffee… and sit back!)
- Provide simple items and (of course) a safe environment, and let them go at it!
- If you need to jump-start the process, try…
- sitting with your kiddo and doing some experimenting yourself: stack some blocks, or even balance something on your head (just to see if you can, right?).
- Ask some simple questions to encourage exploration: will they stack? Can I see through it like a telescope? What if I put it on my head? What can we do with THIS? Hey, what do you think this is for? Who am I now?
Before you know it, the small people in your life will be taking the lead… and you might even get to FINISH your cup of coffee for a change!
What kind of open-ended play is a favorite in YOUR house? Drop me a note—I’d love to hear about it.
xoxo,
Jane
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Hi! I’m Jane, owner of The Rowdy Ladybug. I design and produce costumes and playthings for kids. Since I’m a parent like you, I know children’s products need to be FUN, washable, durable, safe, and comfortable. Everything I make is designed to exercise a child’s imagination while getting in their way as little as possible. To that purpose, I don’t use commercial characters or others’ copyrighted designs. I do what I can to keep my business as green and as local as possible.
I live in Washington, PA USA, with my husband and daughter. They tolerate my piles of fabric and occasional excited babbling when I create something new. We are supervised by two cats, who do a better job of holding down the furniture than keeping me out of trouble.
If you have questions about my shop, my blog, or my creative process, I’d love to hear from you!
