Loose parts/ sensory play - Tips for starting with a near 3yo?

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My LO is turning 3 soon. I have been meaning to try loose part play and some sandbox sort of sensory play with him for ages. DS has an inquisitive mind with very structured thoughts for his age. I feel he would enjoy it if he gets into it. But I have no idea how to start.

Despite my willingness to try, I'm frightened of the idea that he'd throw the loose parts all over the place without actually using them as what they are meant to be. And then I would be even more lost on how to guide him to play.

Can someone who has had experience kindly share some tips how to start?
How to manage the messiness?
What to be expected at the start before they finally master this kind of play?

Sorry! My fear and questions might sound silly. But it's really a new concept to me, but would love to learn.

Thank you!

Hi there, OP!

Just bumping this for you. Hopefull someone will be around soon who can help. If you'd like us to move this to somewhere a bit busier like Chat though, just drop us a line by hitting the report button above this post.

We're moving this over to our Chat topic for the OP.

Do you mean outdoors play or inside play? I think the messiness is a big part of it, you kind of have to embrace objects being used creatively/ play sets and materials being 'mixed' and things not having a set purpose. You could start with just collecting ordinary objects and letting them play in their own way eg my 3yo likes sorting buttons into the compartments of a box that was originally used for tea sachets. Outside there are some sticks in the middle of the garden that were a jump for an imaginary horse and a pile of leaves that were pretend cupcakes last time we were out there.

If you’re concerned about mess I’d avoid sand inside. It will get everywhere.

If you get a big mat or tablecloth for him to play on then it makes clean up quicker.

You don’t need to guide him to play just let him have a go and see what happens.

If you're worried about the mess then just be tactical about where you do it. Things like Cheerios, I'm fine with in the living room, easy to hoover up. Slime/jelly type play, in the kitchen with a hard floor and table to wipe afterwards. Sand/mud, outside.

Get yourself a tuff tray to contain the mess. Have a look to see if you have a local scrap store - scraptastic is our local one and it's an invaluable source of bits and pieces for loose parts play. There are lots of Facebook groups with great ideas, if you search for child led and loose parts play they should come up. "The way we play" is a good YouTube channel, I like the "arthurwears" blog too.

Dried chickpeas or beans is a good place to start with sensory play - you can colour them with acrylic paint or just leave them plain and provide lots of pots and utensils for scooping and transferring.

Rice is a good substitute for water. Big mixing bowl, scoop, jug. Tea set. Can be used for pouring and filling. Then toddler-sized dustpan and brush for clearing up spillage.

I use a budget shower curtain under our tuff tray for any messy play involving sand, rice, shave foam etc. easier to clean up and a little protection for the floor. Loose parts play I put in one of my other kids Lego dots packaging trays and to start with I played with. Youngest dc is 2.5 and loves a tractor or picture drawn onto the tuff tray in chalk pen and he adds milk bottle tops for wheels, cotton reels, pipe cleaners for the outline that sort of thing.

Thank you everyone! So many brilliant and practical tips!

I've just received a tuff tray today - but yet to unpack it, as DH would raise eyebrow without seeing how handy it can be.

I can't wait to start it with the LO.

Buttons, wooden beads, bits of ribbon, assorted lids from jars and bottles, shells, scraps of coloured paper, pine cones, wooden pegs.The beauty of loose parts is that there is no way they are 'supposed' to be used.