Ten open-ended resources for toddlers to explore
It can be very easy to forget about using open-ended resources within the environment. Open-ended resources are ideal for young children as they are can explore the materials, developing their creativity and imaginations skills. As there is no right or wrong way of using open ended resources, this can help build children’s self-esteem. Most children will enjoy exploring these items and finding ways to use them. Children will learn more from open-ended resources than plastics toys as these have very limited use.
For children to get the most out of using, open-ended resources adults need to fully understand what these are and why using them can benefit children’s learning and development. Many open ended resources can easily be sourced such as large cardboards boxes, planks of wood, etc. There is no reason why these resources can’t be placed indoors as well as outdoors; children need to be given plenty of learning opportunities both indoors and outdoors that challenge their abilities.
Below is a list of 10 open-ended materials that are perfect for toddler aged children to explore.
- Sand play – Children will spend a considerable amount of time playing with sand. They will use the sand in so many different ways. Children’s imaginative will roll away with them when playing with sand; they will often refer to the sand as something else e.g., “It’s your ice cream.”
- Planks of wood and stumps – These resources are perfect for toddlers as they can be used to make balancing beams to walk along, or they can also be used to make ramps. The opportunities are endless.
- Wooden blocks – Toddlers will enjoy using the blocks to create many different structures, they will even use the large blocks to climb on. Block play can help develop children’s creativity, imagination and physical development. Why not add other resources to this type of play to help extend the learning further such as small world people.
- Crates and tyres and material – These open-ended resources can be used in so may different ways, young children will use them for different purposes such as a train or a boat. Older children will use them to construct structures, e.g., dens.
- Paint – People often forget that paint is an open-ended resource. Why not provide the children with a variety of different colours and different sizes brushes and let the children freely explore these resources.
- Water play – Water play is very much like sand play, children will use their imagination to find many different ways of using the water. Adding other resources such as containers, plastic animals, dolls, etc. to water play can help extend the learning,
- Cardboard boxes – All children love playing with cardboards boxes, the amount of imagination that evolves from using a cardboard box is immense. The child will refer to the box as being a” spaceship and they are off to the moon”, or young children may use this as a hideaway.
- Treasure baskets – Treasure baskets are ideal for developing children’s creativity and imagination, the objects within a treasure basket are very much open ended. These resources are household items that you will find around the house such wooden and metal spoons, pots and pans, bathroom items such as scrubbing brushes. All of these resources can provide children with vast learning opportunities.
- Playdough – There are so many ways children can use playdough, they can either use it on its own or other resources can be added to it, for example, pipe cleaners, feathers, lollipop sticks. By adding other resources, it allows children to develop their creativity further.
- Natural objects – Why not collect natural resources and let children freely explore these, again there is no right or wrong way of using them. These resources can always be added to the small world area or they could be left in a tray for the children to explore.
Are open-ended resources freely accessible in your environment for all ages of children, if so what resources have you found to be the most effective?