Open ended play is a term from the toy world for something quite simple: toys with no single way of being used. There is no right answer, no button to press and no story written in advance. The child decides what the play is about.
The opposite is a toy that can only do one thing. A figure that says the same sentence every time you press its tummy is fun for five minutes. A box of blocks can be a castle today, a garage tomorrow and a bridge across the living room floor on Sunday.
What makes a toy open ended?
There is no official definition, but most people agree on a few traits:
- It can be used in several ways. The parts can be combined in new ways, and the play can change direction along the way.
- It is not finished. The child adds something of their own, a story, a colour or a new building.
- It can grow. It makes sense to keep building on it, instead of putting it away once it has been tried.
- It is quiet. Toys without sounds and lights leave more to the imagination.
Why do children play with it for longer?
When a toy does not tell the child what should happen, there is always something new to come up with. That is why a cardboard box and a roll of tape can keep a child busy longer than the newest gadget. The child is never finished with the play, because the play was never fixed.
Many parents also find that children play more independently with toys like these. We have written more about that in the post How children learn to play on their own.
Open ended play in wood
At Crateit, open ended play is the whole idea. Our sets are designed in Odense and come in bare wood, so the children colour them themselves. The parts click together without glue, so a set can be taken apart and built again, and the colours can change when the play changes.
- Crateit Town is a town that grows one set at a time: roads, a fire station, a police station and vehicles that all fit together.
- Crateit Roomies are small rooms that the child furnishes, from The Bubble Nest to The Cloud Office.
- Crateit markers are made for the wood, so colour is part of the play and not just a first step.
How to choose toys that leave room
Ask yourself three questions next time you are holding a toy: Can it be used in more than one way? Can the child put something of their own into it? And will it still make sense in a year? If the answer is yes three times, you are on the right track.
What does research say about play?
Play is not just a pastime. When children play freely, they practise solving problems, working together, negotiating rules and putting words to what they experience. That is why many early years educators describe free play as one of the most important parts of a day at nursery. Open ended toys suit this kind of play well, because they do not dictate what should happen.
That does not mean all other toys are bad. A game with rules or a puzzle with one right answer trains other things, such as waiting your turn and keeping focus. The point is balance. Most children's rooms have plenty of toys that can only do one thing, and too few that can become anything.
Open ended play at different ages
The youngest use toys with their hands. They stack, put together, take apart and drive cars back and forth. Slightly older children start giving things roles. The fire engine has to go to a fire, and the figure in the house needs breakfast. The oldest build whole worlds with rules, maps and stories that can last for days.
The good thing about open ended toys is that the same set can follow the child through all three stages. It is the play that changes, not the toy.
How to help the play get started
- Leave the toys out instead of packing them away every evening. A game that is ready to go more often turns into something.
- Offer a few things at a time rather than everything. Too many toys at once make it harder to choose.
- Ask open questions such as "who lives here?" or "where is the bus going?" instead of showing how it should be done.
And remember that open ended play does not mean everything has to be open. Children also need a frame. A set with a fire station gives the story a start, but the child decides where it ends.
Frequently asked questions
What does open ended play mean?
It means play with no single right answer. The term is used for toys and play where there is no one correct way of doing things, and where the child decides what happens.
Are open ended toys only for young children?
No. Young children use them with their hands, and older children build whole worlds with rules and stories. That is exactly the strength: the same toy can be used in new ways for years.
Is Crateit open ended?
Yes, that is the whole idea. The sets click together without glue, can be rebuilt and come in bare wood that children colour themselves and can colour again.
