Loose Parts

The Loose Parts set of books serve as inspiration with hundreds of beautiful full color photographs illustrating ways children enjoy using everyday items in their play, encouraging their curiosity, giving free reign to their play, and encouraging creativity. Books are available individually.

Loose parts are natural or synthetic found, bought, or upcycled materials--acorns, hardware, stones, aluminum foil, fabric scraps, for example--that children can move, manipulate, control, and change within their play. Loose parts are alluring and beautiful. They capture children's curiosity, give free reign to their imagination, and encourage creativity. With more than 550 color photographs of many kinds of loose parts in real early childhood settings, classroom stories, and a dynamic overview, this book provides inspiration and information about the ways loose parts support open-ended learning, enhance play, and empower children. With loose parts, the possibilities are endless. Paperback. 232 pages.

This follow-up to the wildly popular

brings the fun of found objects to infants and toddlers. A variety of new and innovative loose parts ideas are paired with beautiful photography to inspire safe loose parts play in your infant toddler environment. Learn about the safety considerations of each age group and how to appropriately select materials for your children. Captivating classroom stories and proven science, provide the context for how this style of play supports children's development and learning. Because the possibilities are endless, each child can use the materials appropriate for their developmental level and safely explore their world. Paperback. 272 pages.

Offering inspiration and guidance on creating culturally sensitive and culturally sustainable early childhood environments. With the help of over 400 full-color photos this book guides readers to use their environment to promote a sense of wonder, curiosity, and joy, and allow children to explore their identity. This book analyzes environment design through six key terms: aesthetic--the nature of art and beauty; authenticity--avoiding stereotypical and biased assumptions; equity-achieving equal outcomes by the individualizing support for each child; dynamic--always changing and supporting children's critical thinking; praxis--actioned informed by theory; and critical reflection--the on-going process of consideration, analysis and informed decision-making applied to daily work. Paperback. 280 pages.

With inspiring full-color photographs

is organized around competencies and life skills children need for success in the future: knowingness, engagement, risk, connections, leadership, innovative thinking, and creativity. This book explains the value of loose parts, detail how to integrate loose parts into the environment and children's play, and specifically focus on loose parts for children in family environments-helping educators engage families and extend learning beyond the classroom. Paperback. 312 pages.