Open-ended play is a kind of play that does not have any predetermined rules or procedure. It has no limitations and no fixed answers as to right or wrong (no fixed or expected outcome). The children will use their own creativity and imagination to play their games.
Open-ended play allows children to express themselves in a play freely and creatively without any limitations.
Open-ended toys in India is a new concept but is definitely trending among the new generation of parents and is here to stay.
What are open ended toys?
Simply put, open-ended toys are toys that can be played with in multiple and varied ways by a child.
These are toys that are 90% child and 10% toy as they leave plenty of room for a child’s wish to interpret. Ten children could be given the same open ended toy and all ten of them would find different ways to play with it on different occasions based on their interests, developmental stage, natural abilities and imagination.
Going by this example, the same toy can be played with by a baby, a toddler, a preschooler and even beyond, yes you read that right. Open ended toys are beneficial even for a grade schooler.
Open-ended toys encourage endless creativity and imagination. Imagine a child operated toy vs a battery operated toy. Which ensures creativity and open ended possibilities.
10 Open ended toys vs Closed ended toys
Open Ended toys features
- Independent thinking and playing
- Associating with events and stories happening in the child’s environment
- Open thoughts, endless possibilities as no fix outcome
- No rules, so the child creates their own rules and boundaries
Close ended toys features
- Self Correction- a round peg will only go in a round peg and not a square.
- Purpose- a certain task needs to be accomplished, writing or reading, etc
- Mastery- like a puzzle, focus and time is of essence to get it right
- Order- children thrive on rhythm and repetition. Predictable outcome of a toy gives that sense of security of what to expect.
Best Open-Ended Toys for endless hours of play
2. Peg Dolls
3. Loose Parts
Best Open-Ended Toys for Pretend Play
1. A cooking set which has no labels
2. Peg Dolls
3. Houses
4. Scoopers
5. Dolls of various sizes, shapes and skin tones
Best Open-Ended Toys for Construction
- Good quality toy blocks
- Trilinks
- Wooden Planks
- Wooden Pebbles
- Houses
Best Open-Ended Sensory Play Ideas
- Sensory bins with water, sand and other loose materials
- Scoopers and Pots
- Open ended materials like Silks and Scarves
- Feet and Feel mats
- Space Explorer
Why is open-ended play important for kids?
- Encourages children to think critically, reason, and self-regulate.
- Ignites the imagination and creativity.
- Provides a calming way to help process emotions.
- Helps children develop independence and build leadership skills.
- Promotes cognitive flexibility and social awareness.
- strengthens hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and vocabulary.
Open-Ended Toys: What makes the ideal toy for kids?
When it comes to choosing open ended toys and materials for open ended play, it’s important to look for items that are free of rules and limitations and able to be used in a variety of ways. An ideal open-ended toy can be anything and everything that is free of a fixed outcome or booklet.
How do you encourage/facilitate open-ended play?
- Let your child ‘BE’. I know it is far more difficult than said. But trust me, when you let them BEBE,hey BLOOM
- Let them BE BORED, sparks curiosity.
- Give them downtime, a time to go inward, relax.
- Let them lead their play, just OBSERVE. Do not interfere.
- Ask them questions, don't prompt them with what you think or want to hear.
- Invest in good quality, open-ended toys that will grow with your child.
Conclusion
Finally, there’s no “wrong” way for children to engage in open-ended play. When children have the ability to play without instruction, they become less concerned with doing the activity correctly.
Open-ended toys and play instills confidence in your child to experiment with new concepts as they realize there’s no right or wrong way to engage.
When your child sits down with a set of colored pencils and a blank piece of paper, they can draw and color anything their imagination desires. They can practice their handwriting, or write their name.
Children become less afraid to make mistakes, which pushes them to try new things.
Bombay Toy Company open ended toys are a perfect way to kick start your and your child’s journey into the world of endless possibilities and creativity.
