Play advocates often talk about the importance of open ended play, open ended play materials and having play be child led instead of adult led. There is a popular theory called Loose Parts was developed by Simon Nicholson in 1971. He wrote a paper entitled “How NOT to cheat children”. The “loose parts” he talks about are the materials that children can play with, and they can be used in a variety of ways to encourage creativity, experimentation and invention. This type of play is also perfect for practicing flexible thinking and for seeing someone else’s point of view. The same materials/prompts can lead to very different creations. For open-ended playdate ideas, take a listen!