What are open-ended materials and how do they benefit my son?

Open-ended materials/toys are materials and toys that do not have one purpose, and they may actually have no specific purpose at all. I prefer these materials over many toys because they foster creativity and imagination and there are limitless ways they can be used and manipulated.

Kingston is still so young and we are only 22 months into our play journey. And, on the same note, we are ALREADY 22 months into our play journey! By having open ended materials accessible to him, he makes decisions about what he wants to play with and how he wants to use it. Here are our top 5 favorite open-ended toys at the moment.

 

Balance Board

The balance board is wonderful for practicing balancing and climbing. It also makes for a great tunnel, boat, bridge, ramp, bed, slide, seat, step, and many other things. In our home it has entertained an eight year old, a one year old, an entire group of toddlers, and even adults (weight limit is 200lbs)! When we first got the board, I looked at it and wondered what Kingston would do with it. He began to use it as a slide right away, flying off the other end and shouting “weeeeee!” We have had it for a few months now and he has slowly begun to discover more uses for it. One of his favorite things to do with this board is to drive his cars over and under it. I have a feeling this will be a favorite for a long time. Our specific board is from Sarah’s Silks.

                     

 

Grimms Rainbow Stacker

Grimm’s Rainbow Blocks are so beautiful, stack nicely, and are a wonderful addition to any toy shelf. They are expensive but worth it. They can be used to stack and build, make designs or even artwork with, or use with other toys. Kingston builds with them and practices balancing but also frequently uses them as a tunnel for his trains or a ramp for cars. Just look up the hashtag #grimmsrainbow and see how many amazing things can be created with these blocks.

                         

Loose Parts

On our art cart, we have containers with an assortment of loose parts. These include: buttons, marbles, corks, feathers, bottle tops, shells, glass stones, rocks, wooden dowels, pompoms, etc. Loose parts can be used in infinite ways. They can be used to create pictures or designs. They can be used for pretend play. They can be used for making patterns, counting, or shaping letters. You can make structures with them or add them to existing blocks buildings or Lego constructions.

         

Kingston and his friend scooping buttons.

Some loose parts with playdough.

 

Sensory Table

The sensory table is one of Kingston’s favorite places to play. A sensory table is really just a raised bin that the child can stand next to, reach into, and use what is inside. When Kingston was an infant, I used a bin on the floor that he could crawl in and out of. I am used to large sensory tables used in kindergarten classrooms. I got a toddler-sized one because we live in a small apartment. But also because Kingston is not yet 2 and I didn’t want him to have to grow into it but to be able to use it right away. I have put beans, lentils, rice, and other things into it. See my previous post, titled Living a Sensory Life, to read about things to include in a sensory bin at different ages up to around 18 months (https://mykindergartenpocket.com/living-a-sensory-life/). A bin of beans is an open-ended material because there are endless possibilities for what to do. Kingston will often take animals, letters, vehicles, dollhouse people, or other things from his shelf and add them to the table. He takes scoopers like spoons or other small containers and scoops and pours. He uses paper towel tubes, jars with lids, and rakes and shovels.

                    

Here is a record of Kingston’s exact actions when he had rice in his sensory table a few weeks ago:

He scoops rice and tries to pour it into a cup but misses. Scoops again. Begins to notice that when he scoops with the green shovel, the rice doesn’t stay in place. Puts the green shovel down and picks up a smaller scooper. Tilts his body when he pours into the cup to try to control the spilling. Spills rice onto the floor. Looks down and says “uh oh” and goes right back to pouring. Picks up the toilet paper tube and tries to scoop up rice with it. Rice goes straight through. Tries it again twice more. Looks through the hole in the tube and then puts it up to his eye like a telescope. Picks up a cup found in the corner of the table and scoops up with it. Starts to pour rice out but notices his wrist won’t turn that way. Uses other hand to pour rice back into the table. Walks over to his play kitchen.

I feel like I can see his brain activity and connections being made when I watch him in the sensory table. The way his body moves and his concentration level. With each passing week there are slight differences in his play here at the table.

Kingston choosing items from his shelf to use in his sensory table.

Playdough

I have found playdough to be one of the most versatile open-ended materials. I set out playdough on a table with some loose parts next to it. I’ll include: buttons, sticks, marbles, wooden dowels, etc (not all at once). Sometimes I put the playdough on a tray to help contain it. Sometimes I put it on a mirror to add another dimension. Sometimes I just lay it on the table. Sometimes I add animals or dollhouse people nearby. I love to watch what Kingston is able to do with these materials. Of the many things he engages in with the playdoh, some favorites are: pinch small pieces off tiny piece by tiny piece, press it down with both hands, try to make a ball and throw it around, press a piece of it to his nose and make a quacking sound (after we were playing together once and discovered we could make something that resembled a duck bill), place sticks into it, press buttons into it, smell it, lick it (and then peek at me waiting for me to say “not in your mouth!”).

       

I implore any adult to use and manipulate playdough for ten minutes and then create a list of verbs to describe all that you were able to do. Here’s a start: squish, pull, press, stretch, pound, poke, twist, smash, trace, create, make, pinch, stab, stomp, squeeze, throw, catch, balance, and on and on and on… Playdough paired with anything really is an excellent start to your collection of open-ended materials.

Not all of our items and toys are open ended. But my goal is to provide Kingston with experiences to make decisions, use his imagination, and grow his creativity. I recommend any new parent to incorporate a little bit of open ended play into their child’s play time each day and just see what blooms.