{"id":54627,"date":"2023-03-22T16:06:31","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T15:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.malihnog.com\/?p=54627"},"modified":"2023-04-14T12:24:25","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T10:24:25","slug":"play-dictionary-open-ended-play-and-toys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.malihnog.com\/en\/play-dictionary-open-ended-play-and-toys\/","title":{"rendered":"Play Dictionary: Open-ended Play and Toys"},"content":{"rendered":"

PLAY DICTIONARY: OPEN-ENDED PLAY AND TOYS <\/h2>

Open-ended play seems to be all the rage right now! And we understand \u2013 actually, not only do we understand, but we\u2019re also one of many open-ended play fans who are more than happy to add to even more buzz to this phenomenon.<\/p>

Why? It\u2019s simple: because open-ended play is fantastic! It encourages experimentation and problem-solving, it lays the foundation for future creativity and<\/em> it keeps children busy for long stretches of time at once!<\/p>

But what does open-ended play mean<\/em> exactly? What are its benefits? And what do open-ended toys actually look like?<\/p>

If you\u2019re new to this magical little world of ours, and happen to be wondering these same questions, let\u2019s crack open our Play Dictionary, and find out the answers together! Here we go\u2026<\/p>

WHAT ARE OPEN-ENDED TOYS?<\/h3>

Let\u2019s start with the phrase \u201copen-ended\u201d! A quick search in the nearest dictionary will lead to a definition something like this:<\/p>

open-ended<\/em><\/strong> (adjective)<\/em><\/p>

  1. having no set limits; broad, unlimited, unrestricted;<\/li>\n\n
  2. open to change; adaptable to the developing needs of a situation;<\/li>\n\n
  3. permitting or designed to permit spontaneous and unguided responses.<\/li><\/ol>

    It\u2019s not a big stretch to see from here that open-ended play is, basically, play without boundaries or any set of expectations. <\/strong>Open-ended play is unstructured play!<\/p>

    It follows from this that open-ended toys come with no instruction or pre-defined purpose, but instead inspire us (and our kids, of course) to play with them in several ways. If you give an open-ended toy to different children, they will \u2013 most probably \u2013 come up with very different ways to play with it. Based on their age, developmental stage, natural abilities, interests and imagination (or even recent experiences and current emotions!), all children will use the same toy in a multitude of ways. <\/p>

    This is because any open-ended toy is designed with the \u201c90% the child, 10% the toy\u201d <\/strong>premise in mind. These toys let children direct<\/em> and be in charge of<\/em> their own play, as well as leave plenty of room for their input<\/em>. With open-ended toys, the typical question burning in parents\u2019 minds while choosing playthings for their child is always turned around! It\u2019s not about \u201cwhat does this toy do for my child?\u201d, but rather: \u201cwhat can my child do with this toy?\u201d<\/p>

    HERE’S A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE!<\/h3>
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    Look at these Grimm\u2019s cups<\/a><\/strong>! We can use them for stacking, or building a tower, but they can also become plates for an imaginary meal, or even dollhouse furniture!<\/p>

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    Similarly, building blocks<\/a><\/strong>, mandalas<\/strong><\/a>, playsilks<\/a><\/strong> or the iconic Grimm\u2019s rainbow<\/a><\/strong> will provide endless ways to play with them. But why stop there? We\u2019ve also all seen our children playing with rocks, sticks, ropes, empty cardboard boxes, kitchen pots, paper rolls\u2026 Just a few examples of how many open-ended play materials we have lying around our homes already!<\/p>

    The key to a toy or material being open-ended is simplicity<\/strong>. The less well-defined it is, the more room it will leave for the ideas of your child.<\/strong><\/p>

    SO WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF OPEN-ENDED PLAY?<\/h3>

    Like we mentioned before, open-ended toys always meet the child where they are. Their versatility allows them to explore and work on things <\/strong>(during play) they are curious about<\/strong>. It makes them investigate<\/strong>, explore<\/strong>, and later on, imagine<\/strong> and create<\/strong>.<\/p>

    And since open-ended play\u2019s more focused on the process than the end result, it also fosters a curious mindset<\/strong> and positive attitude<\/strong> toward experimenting with new concepts and ideas. Open-ended play encourages the innovative way of problem-solving<\/strong>, and it\u2019s a powerhouse of creativity and imagination. Last but not least \u2013 it lets children own their discoveries<\/strong>, too.<\/p>

    WHAT ABOUT CLOSE-ENDED TOYS?<\/h3>

    Because if we\u2019re talking about open-ended toys, surely we can talk about close-ended toys too, right? So what are they exactly?<\/p>

    We call toys close-ended when they\u2019re more limited in use<\/strong>: they only do one thing, like e.g. those one-and-done active toys that play lights and sounds when a child presses their buttons. Close-ended toys sometimes get a bad reputation because of these types of, well, entertainment-focused toys \u2013 and if we\u2019re totally honest, those are the ones we don\u2019t see too much value in, either.<\/p>

    But don\u2019t rush to throw out all<\/em> your close-ended toys though! Because \u2013 as it turns out \u2013 there\u2019s much more than meets the eye in some of them.<\/p>

    NOT ALL CLOSE-ENDED TOYS ARE OF THE DEVIL<\/h3>

    Think about it: when your child sits down with a shape sorter<\/a><\/strong> or stacking tower<\/a><\/strong>; when they begin working on a puzzle<\/a><\/strong>, or they want to play cards <\/a><\/strong>or dominoes, <\/a><\/strong>they\u2019re also choosing close-ended activities! Each of these toys or games have a clearly set purpose, concrete rules to play by, and a clear beginning and end \u2013 something you can only play with in the \u201cright\u201d way.<\/p>

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    But these \u201cclosed\u201d play materials, which actually require a lot of active participation from a child (instead of just flashing lights powered by batteries) are actually just as great and necessary as open-ended toys!<\/strong> It\u2019s just that they serve a very different purpose.<\/p>

    Close-ended toys usually come with a well-defined goal: whether it\u2019s size discrimination, colour matching or turn-taking, they usually target or magnify specific skills<\/strong>. It\u2019s like an intensive training session based on one subject! Often, they involve multiple steps, which helps young children learn how to plan ahead<\/strong> and then sequence their steps<\/strong>. It teaches them about a work cycle, and how to build sustained attention<\/strong>. And these abilities are just as important for their future problem-solving skills as imagination!<\/p>

    A BALANCED TOYSHELF HAS BOTH<\/h3>

    Close-ended materials give children a sense of purpose<\/strong>, order<\/strong> and accomplishment<\/strong>. While open-ended toys offer them a space for creativity and freedom. So aren\u2019t they both necessary for well-rounded thinking then? We certainly think so!<\/p>

    That\u2019s why we believe there should be room on every play shelf for both kinds of toys \u2013 because children really do need both. So, as a parent, all you need to do is find the right balance that fits for your own child\u2019s temperament and developmental stage.<\/p>

    OPEN-ENDED PLAY LOOKS DIFFERENT AT EVERY STAGE<\/h3>

    Speaking of developmental stages! Let\u2019s hang onto that for a moment: since open-ended play can look very different at each stage, most often, open-ended toys won\u2019t be used the same way. This is something we really can\u2019t emphasize enough \u2013 it\u2019s vital to understand the different stages of how our children play<\/strong> (preferably before we, as parents, get disappointed that our large wooden rainbow has been standing untouched on our play shelf)!<\/p>

    Because although we said that open-ended toys are great for imagination, a toddler might not have yet started to develop the symbolic thinking that enables him to play that way! Meaning that, even though the rainbow<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s already in your home, it won\u2019t yet turn into tunnels or doll houses. And the Grapat coins<\/a><\/strong> won\u2019t be used as play coins in the make-believe supermarket!<\/p>

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    Most of the time, toddlers are still experimenting with the physical characteristics of objects and engaging in something called \u201cschema play\u201d<\/strong>. They love stacking, matching, lining up, filling and emptying things. Before they start turning around things in their head, they need to turn things around a lot<\/em> in their hands!<\/p>

    And at this stage, you might find that your child is more interested in close-ended toys, such as shape sorters, stackers or classic hammering games, as they tackle that need. But simplistic, open-ended materials, chosen with this perspective in mind, leave plenty of room for physical exploration, too! The Grimm\u2019s cups<\/a><\/strong> we mentioned before, for example, are more than perfect for stacking, sorting, and filling, before our toddler grows into using their budding imagination to transform the cups into bowls, or drums, or something else entirely.<\/p>

    OPEN-ENDED PLAY IS A MINDSET<\/h3>

    Another thing we always like to emphasize when it comes to open-ended play is that it\u2019s more of a mindset. Which means that all play can be open-ended \u2013 as long as it\u2019s unstructured and child-led<\/strong>.<\/p>

    The truth is that any kind of toy or material can be used in an open-ended way<\/strong>. For my part, I have seen my child using puzzle pieces as pirate treasures, coming up with his own rules for Uno cards, and I\u2019ve also witnessed our board game figures coming alive in his own special story. Children often play in a very open-ended way by default, because\u2026 well, it just comes naturally to them. They have curious minds, and encouraging this type of play keeps that spark alive.<\/p>

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    The different types of toys we choose for them can definitely affect them. But now we know: the secret doesn\u2019t just lie in toys! Open-ended play should also be an authentic mindset on our side:<\/strong> giving enough freedom to our children to figure out how they can play with certain materials. Which means that sometimes, we\u2019ll need to take a deep breath and take two steps back instead of meddling, instructing or correcting them as they play. This way, when they need to, they\u2019ll be more than ready to think outside the (toy)box!<\/p>

    Photography: Teja Lazar<\/a> & Edina Mocz-Horvath<\/a><\/em>. All right reserved.<\/em><\/p>

    \u2022<\/strong> \u2022<\/strong> \u2022<\/strong><\/h2>