The Benefits Of Open-Ended Play
When children engage in open ended play, they’re encouraged to use their imaginations, creativity and problem solving skills, which is crucial for their cognitive and physical development. But what exactly is open-ended play and how can you facilitate it? In this article, we break down the ideology behind open ended play and share our favorite multi-use toys!
Photo by
Syrie Wongkaew
You’ve probably heard of active play and sensory play, but what about open-ended play?
Every bit as important, open-ended play is any type of play that doesn’t have set rules, limitations or defined outcome. Open-ended play can include playing dress-up, using sidewalk chalk, experimenting with blocks or setting up a play kitchen — anything that ignites the imagination and fuels creativity.
When you remove boundaries as well as the pressure of needing to complete something, kids are able to let their minds run free without the fear of failing. They can safely explore an object, nature or persona, enabling them to draw conclusions, form opinions and build confidence. Essentially, open-ended play helps children understand the world around them and encourages them to develop a sense of self.
How does open-ended play benefit children?
- 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
When it comes to choosing 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.
Here are our favorite open-ended play toys and activity ideas:
Stacking Cups & Rainbows
Versatile toys like stacking cups and rainbows are wonderful for honing hand-eye coordination, teaching color recognition, and developing numeracy skills. While your child will surely begin to imagine a million and one ways to play with a set of stacking cups or rainbow, you can suggest using them as a stencil, collecting and sorting nature items, in the bath for water play or arranging as an abstract structure.
Mushie Stacking Cups
$14.99
Wee Gallery Bamboo Nesting Bird
$26.95
Dena Large Neon Rainbow
$59.99
Babai Creative Balancer
$39.99
Block sets
Another must-have for honing hand-eye coordination and building confidence, block sets are a true tried and trusted open-play toy. When playing with blocks, kids are able to keep their hands busy, while their minds imagine building a tower that will reach the moon!
At The Tot, we have been loving the variety of block sets that our vendors have been creating! From a classic multi-shaped set from Guidecraft to the colorful wooden ‘Rock Blocks’ to the Tender Leaf Toys Wagon with Blocks that doubles as decor, they all offer a fun open-ended play experience.
PlanToys 50 Unit Blocks
$70
Guidecraft Outdoor Wooden Hollow Blocks
$999.95
Guidecraft Wooden Unit Blocks Set B
$99.95
Papoose Rainbow Stack
$50
Tender Leaf Toys Wagon with Blocks
$84.99
Rock Blocks Frosty Set of 16
$57.99
Miniland Eco Beams Building Set
$31.98
Guidecraft PowerClix Solid
$99.95
Loose part toys
Fantastic for sharpening fine motor skills, loose part play toys can give children the freedom to create mini worlds, while strengthening the muscles needed for holding a pencil, buttoning a sweater and tying shoes.
Our kids are currently loving the lacing/building/stacking/wearing natural loose part play kits from Let Them Play and Babai.
Kids also love the Safari and Farmyard animal sets from Tender Leaf Toys that bring to life their miniature worlds.
Babai Lacing Toy Set
$44.99
Let Them Play Sticks & Blocks Building Set
$47.50
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Let Them Play Rainbow Disc & Thread Kit
$25
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Let Them Play Starter Set
$44.50
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Papoose Rainbow Ball Bowl Set
$160
Grapat Nest Bowls
$83.60
Tender Leaf Toys Safari Collection
$59.99
Tender Leaf Toys Farmyard Collection
$57.99
Imaginative play
One of the most fun ways to engage in open ended play is to make-believe. Role play toys like cash registers, doctor sets, costumes, play kitchens, teaching toys, toy food and dollhouses can provide hours of imaginative fun! They’re also a great way to encourage siblings or friends to play together.
You can also try giving your tot transportation toys like trucks, cars and machines to help them discover how things work and demonstrate cause and effect. Encourage them to set up race tracks, zoom down a hall or set up a workshop at the kitchen table.
Wiwiurka Moon Doll Stroller
$120
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Ellie & Becks Co. Ellie Doll Rattan Crib
$139
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Available in more colors
Ellie & Becks Co. Quinn Doll Rattan Day Bed
$139
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Available in more colors
Ellie & Becks Co. Aria Doll Rattan Changing Table
$199
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Ellie & Becks Co. Hazel Doll Rattan Crib
$189
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Ellie & Becks Co. Clara Doll Rattan Cart
$199
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Available in more colors
Ellie & Becks Co. Harlow Rattan Doll Pram
$199
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Available in more colors
Let Them Play Story Scene Bundle
$150
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Let Them Play Story Scene Mushroom Set
$79.50
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Let Them Play Tree People
$29.50
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Papoose Deluxe Mouse House Set
$200
Papoose Fairy House Set
$225
Make Me Iconic Doctor Kit
$64.99
Make Me Iconic Beauty Kit
$69.99
Make Me Iconic Dentist Kit
$64.99
Milton & Goose Essential Play Kitchen – Natural
$649
Available in more colors
Milton & Goose Pantry Play Food Set
$48
Milton & Gose Veggies Play Food Set
$32.99
Tender Leaf Toys Wooden Breakfast Tray
$31.99
Janod Toys Green Market Grocery
$120.99
Tender Leaf Toys Dovetail House
$259.99
Zephyr’s Nest Play & Learn Tray Bundle
$95
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Arts & crafts
One of the toughest things about being a kid is learning how to manage your emotions. It can often be anxiety inducing to enter a play group, start school or have a parent need to leave. By using craft supplies like play dough, children are free to manipulate and mold with their hands, while their minds begin to process how they’re feeling.
Other great open ended play options include chalk or good old fashioned paper and crayons.
Just Rocks in a Box – 64 Crayons
$30
Kid Made Modern Studio in a Box
$39.99
Dough Parlour Collector Set
$80
Let Them Play Dough Kit
$25.50
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Twee Sushi Roll Sidewalk Chalk
$27
Kid Made Modern Wondrous Watercolor
$16.99
Active play
Wiwiurka Climbing Furniture Combo
$750
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Available in more colors
Wiwiurka Climbing Arch with Reversible Ramp
$425
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Available in more colors
Wiwiurka Baby Tadeuz
$230
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Available in more colors
Wiwiurka Foldable Triangle with Rock Climbing Board
$510 – $535
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Available in more colors
Wiwiurka Foldable Triangle with Reversible Ramp
$490 – $515
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Available in more colors
Wiwiurka Climbing Arch
$250
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more colors
Wiwiurka Rocker Balance Board XXL
$415
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more colors
Wiwiurka Double Rocker Balance Board
$335
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more colors
Wiwiurka Wooden Balance Beam
$145
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Wiwiurka Jungle Gym Bars Combo
$250
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Nothing is more multi-use than the Wobbel!
Seriously – this board can be used for balancing, sliding, yoga, stretching, as a stool, as a bridge, as a table, as a nap space, as a coloring board, and more. Available in two options: one with felt for use on wood or tile and one raw for use on carpet, your tot will love creating their own Wobbel world!
Wobbel – The Original
$159
Wobbel – The Original with Felt
$199
Sensory Toys
Playing in a sandbox or at the beach is the perfect place for kids imagine, think, feel and explore. Are they digging to the other side of the world? Trying to build a moat around their kingdom? Searching for the right sand/water consistency for their drip sand castle? By providing simple tools like the Tender Leaf Toys My Forest Floor, they’ll be entertained for hours.
Guidecraft Jump Sensory River Stones
$89.95
Miniland Sensory Balls
$41.98
Sprout Dishwashing Station / Sensory Table
$400
Q Toys Tree Blocks
$100.99
Continue exploring
- Searching for activities and toys to help your tot reach important developmental milestones? Check out The Tot Play + Learn Sets. Designed by expert early learning educators, there are nine sets available for kids age newborn to six.
- Trying to make home feel like school? Visit The Tot Homeschooling Essentials Shop.