Loose Parts Ideas

A growing collection of loose parts ideas

With this never-ending project, I’m creating an extensive collection of loose parts ideas caregivers can browse and search for ideas and inspiration for augmenting their play space’s loose parts supply.

For more on loose parts, check out this definition of Loose Parts Play, read Simon Nicholson’s Theory Of Loose Parts, and find more loose parts resources by searching loose parts in the above search box.

We always need photos of kids at play with loose parts. You’re welcome to submit your photos via the button below.

A
Acorns

Acorns

Aluminum Foil

Aluminum Foil

B
Bright

Bright

Bamboo

Bamboo

Basters

Basters

Bungee Straps

Bungee Straps

Bowls

Bowls

Bobbers

Bobbers

Binoculars

Binoculars

Balloons

Balloons

Backpacks

Backpacks

Buckets

Buckets

Boots

Boots

Bathroom Scales

Bathroom Scales

Bird Feeders

Bird Feeders

Baskets

Baskets

Buttons

Buttons

Bowling Balls

Bowling Balls

Balance

Balance

Boards

Boards

Bottle Caps

Bottle Caps

Bricks

Bricks

C
Crickets

Crickets

Chicken Feet

Chicken Feet

Cookie Cutters

Cookie Cutters

Corn Cobs

Corn Cobs

Coconuts

Coconuts

Cicada Shells

Cicada Shells

Chain

Chain

Clipboards

Clipboards

Carpet Squares

Carpet Squares

Cameras

Cameras

Cold

Cold

Clay

Clay

Chalk

Chalk

Caterpillars

Caterpillars

Craft Sticks

Craft Sticks

Circuit Boards

Circuit Boards

Composite-Decking

Composite Decking

Corks

Corks

Clothespins

Clothespins

Cow Bones

Cow Bones

Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard Tubes

Cardboard Tubes

Cable Spools

Cable Spools

Cookie Tins

Cookie Tins

Coins are a great loose part and can support all kinds of learning. Kids will sort them, stack them, arrange them, haul them around, and more. Adult supervision is recommended with younger children since coins can be a choking hazard. Collecting coins from different countries will add even more variety to coin play.

Coins

D
Dice

Dice

Dolls

Dolls

Dominos

Dominos

Doorknobs

Doorknobs

Doorways

Doorways

Db Meters

Db Meters

Digital Recorders

Digital Recorders

Dish Cloths

Dish Cloths

Dirt

Dirt

Dried Orange Slices

Dried Orange Slices

Doll Heads

Doll Heads

E
Erasers

Erasers

Envelopes

Envelopes

Electricity

Electricity

Electric Drills

Electric Drills

Elastic

Elastic

Eye Dropper

Eye Dropper

Earthworms

Earthworms

Egg Cartons

Egg Cartons

F
Fast

Fast

Flashlights

Flashlights

Flagging Tape

Flagging Tape

Fabric

Fabric

Fly Swatters

Fly Swatters

Funnels

Funnels

Flowers

Flowers

Feathers

Feathers

Fabric Bolts

Fabric Bolts

G
Googly Eyes

Googly Eyes

Golf Tees

Golf Tees

Gloves

Gloves

Garden Hose

Garden Hose

Gravity

Gravity

H
Hula-Hoops

Hula-Hoops

Hills

Hills

Hats

Hats

Hand Lotion

Hand Lotion

Hot Plates

Hot Plates

Hot

Hot

Hubcaps

Hubcaps

Hand Mixers

Hand Mixers

Hammers

Hammers

Hot Glue Guns

Hot Glue Guns

Hockey Pucks

Hockey Pucks

Hand Pumps

Hand Pumps

Hair Ties

Hair Ties

I
Ice Cube Trays

Ice Cube Trays

Ice

Ice

Insects

Insects

J
Jump Ropes

Jump Ropes

Jazz Music

Jazz Music

K
Knives

Knives

Kitchen Sinks

Kitchen Sinks

Kitchen Scales

Kitchen Scales

Kitchen Timers

Kitchen Timers

Keys

Keys

L
Lemons

Lemons

Lace

Lace

Light Meters

Light Meters

Lazy Susans

Lazy Susans

Levels

Levels

Light

Light

Ladles

Ladles

Ladders

Ladders

Leaves

Leaves

Log Slices

Log Slices

M
Milk Jugs

Milk Jugs

Matchsticks

Matchsticks

Markers

Markers

Magnification

Magnification

Magnifiers

Magnifiers

Measuring Cups

Measuring Cups

Marbles

Marbles

Maps

Maps

Muffin Tins

Muffin Tins

Magnifying Glasses

Magnifying Glasses

Milk Crates

Milk Crates

Mud

Mud

Metal Springs

Metal Springs

Mirrors

Mirrors

Magnetic-Hematite

Magnetic Hematite

Mesh Poufs

Mesh Poufs

N
Netting

Netting

Napkin Rings

Napkin Rings

O
Over

Over

Overhead Projectors

Overhead Projectors

P
Potatoes

Potatoes

Pendulums

Pendulums

Paper Towels

Paper Towels

Paper Punches

Paper Punches

Play Dough

Play Dough

Plastic Animals

Plastic Animals

Padlocks

Padlocks

Pie Pans

Pie Pans

Pots And Pans

Pots And Pans

Pulleys

Pulleys

Pets

Pets

Purses

Purses

Potato Mashers

Potato Mashers

plastic cups

Plastic Cups

Popsicle Sticks

Popsicle Sticks

Poop Bag Roll Cores

Poop Bag Roll Cores

Plastic Lamp Shades

Plastic Lamp Shades

Plastic Buttons

Plastic Buttons

Plastic Beads

Plastic Beads

Plastic Hair Curlers

Plastic Hair Curlers

Poker Chips

Poker Chips

Puzzle Pieces

Puzzle Pieces

Pine Cones

Pine Cones

Paperclips

Paperclips

Pool Noodles

Pool Noodles

R
Ramps

Ramps

Rain Gutters

Rain Gutters

Rubber Bands

Rubber Bands

Rain Gauges

Rain Gauges

Rulers

Rulers

Refrigerator Parts

Refrigerator Parts

Rope

Rope

Rims And Tires

Rims And Tires

S
Sunglasses

Sunglasses

Suitcases

Suitcases

Straws

Straws

Straw Bales

Straw Bales

Step Stools

Step Stools

Spray Bottles

Spray Bottles

Sifters

Sifters

Scoops

Scoops

Stopwatches

Stopwatches

Sponges

Sponges

Sand

Sand

Slippery

Slippery

Sleds

Sleds

Scissors

Scissors

Sandbags

Sandbags

Staplers

Staplers

Shovels

Shovels

Snow

Snow

Seed Pods

Seed Pods

String

String

Sewing Bobbins

Sewing Bobbins

Slides And Negatives

Slides And Negatives

Sorting Trays

Sorting Trays

Small Clamps

Small Clamps

Shower Curtain Rings

Shower Curtain Rings

Shells

Shells

T
Tape Roll Cores

Tape Roll Cores

Traffic Cones

Traffic Cones

Tongs

Tongs

Tents

Tents

Thermometers

Thermometers

Test Tubes

Test Tubes

Tape Measures

Tape Measures

Twist Ties

Twist Ties

Loose Parts Tape

Tape

Thread-Spools

Thread Spools

Toy Trucks

Toy Trucks

U
Up

Up

Umbrellas

Umbrellas

Under

Under

V
Vibrating Massagers

Vibrating Massagers

Velcro

Velcro

W
Whistles

Whistles

Whisks

Whisks

Wet

Wet

Wading Pools

Wading Pools

Wheelbarrows

Wheelbarrows

Wagons

Wagons

Wind Chimes

Wind Chimes

Wind

Wind

Wooden I Beams

Wooden I Beams

water

Water

Wooden Pallets

Wooden Pallets

Wallpaper

Wallpaper

washing machine parts

Washing Machine Parts

X
X-Rays

X-Rays

Y
Yoga Balls

Yoga Balls

Yoga Mats

Yoga Mats

Yardsticks

Yardsticks

Yarn

Yarn

Z
Zipper Pouches

Zipper Pouches

Zigzags

Zigzags

Zip Ties

Zip Ties

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