Setting up an open-ended, process-based activity like this is a great way to encourage curiosity, creativity and exploration through undirected sensory play.

What you need:

• Paper
• Paint and other mark making materials (Top Tip: use non-toxic, washable mark making materials)
• Collection ...

The idea for Loose Parts Play originated from Simon Nicholson's (1971) Theory of Loose Parts.

Why use Loose Parts?

Using Loose Parts in play encourages

• creativity and imagination
• exploration ...

Setting up an invitation to play using natural, manufactured and recycled loose parts (open-ended materials) encourages your child to be curious, explore and discover through undirected play.

Put out things you know will spark your child's interests, e.g shells, beads, buttons, sticks, leaves, bun cases, scoops, clothes pegs ...

It's great to get outside without wooly hats and gloves and hearing the birds singing again inspired an easy egg themed sensory play activity.

I left some egg-shaped pieces of card, some with numbers written on them, outside with a collection of sticks, stones and leaves and a few crayons. It wasn't long before more sticks and pieces of bark ...

Last week we made salt dough decorations using flour, salt and water and biscuit cutters.

You can find our Air dry salt dough recipe here.

Top Tips when making Air dry Salt dough:

• The thinner you roll out ...

Have fun making paper chain decorations and develop your scissor skills.

What you need:

• Wax crayons, felt tips, paint, oil pastels etc.

• Plain paper (you can also use construction paper ...

Make a pair of binoculars out of just a cardboard tube and some glue. What can you see through them? Maybe you will use your binoculars to play I spy, or go exploring, or in imaginative play. Have fun!

What you need:

• 2 cardboard tubes (about 10 cm long)

or a cardboard tube e.g. ...

Be a creative, science detective with this easy, inexpensive craft. Create amazing art and investigate why wax resist painting works.

What you need:

• Wax crayons (not the washable kind) or oil pastels
• A piece paper
• A paintbrush or sponge
• Watercolour paint or water coloured with food ...

An inexpensive craft that keeps kids busy and develops creativity. Display their art on the wall, or fridge, or use it to make inexpensive personalized cards or bookmarks.

What you need:

• Wax crayons or oil pastels

• Paper

• Tempura or acrylic paint

  (Top tip: ...