The Loose Parts Recess Program

A volunteer-led program started by three Mount Washington Elementary parents, Loose Parts provides students with creative materials to use during play times. Named for the open-ended materials used for play in different ways, Loose Parts fosters:

•Inventiveness
•Creativity
•Collaboration
•Problem Solving
•Social Emotional Learning
•Curiosity

When this program was implemented in 2019, the recess aides remarked on increased positive creative collaboration and decreased conflict and boredom.

Commitment:
Parent volunteers bring out materials 10 minutes before recess starts, are present to support play during recess, oversee kid cleanup, and put materials away in the shed. Please email: aleighlewisATgmail.com if you are interested to learn more! Click here for how to register with the district as a volunteer.

More About Loose Parts

Here are some helpful resources for volunteers if you are interested in learning more about loose parts! Loose Parts Recess is an extension of the Adventure Playground model which developed in Europe after WWII. At the core of this play pedagogy is providing open ended materials that foster a child’s innate desire to create, deconstruct, and reconfigured elements again and again.

Video: History of Adventure Playgrounds
Video: The Land - Current Adventure playground
Video: Scrapstore PlayPod - Loose Parts Recess UK
Video: Loose Parts Recess Portland
Video: Voices of Children - Research project of kids playing around the world
Video: Anji Play - Loose parts in China

Loose Parts Webinar Series
Class #1 https://youtu.be/Z2mhYKQgxmM
Class #2 https://youtu.be/i0P1k9Zv9eY
Class #3 https://youtu.be/SLwyE7ehhP0

For more learning: Pop-Up Adventure Play