Loose parts play encourages spontaneous science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) behaviours.

ABSTRACT: Children incorporate items found in their environment into their play, transforming everyday objects and materials into an opportunity for exploration. Termed loose parts, these versatile, natural, or manufactured materials (e.g., cardboard, pipes, buttons, sticks) are widely recommended for supporting children's early STEM learning. Limited empirical work has documented children's indoor STEM behaviours with loose parts. Using a within-subjects experimental design, we examined children's early STEM behaviours and engagement (N = 60; 32 females, 28 males; Mage = 58.6 months, SD = 10.9) during unstructured solitary play with loose parts and toys that have limited function and affordance (e.g., toy percussion instruments; control). We conducted observations of children's STEM behaviours. Chi

SUBMITTER: Cankaya O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12695631 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature