Loose Parts DIY:

Eight steps to making your own loose parts playground

1. Figure out who you need to get permission from, and decide what are you trying to do.

Find out who the decision makers are, or who you need to get permission from. Also decide what you are trying to do. We were trying to bring older and younger children together to play together. But you might be trying to accomplish something else.

2. Write proposal think about things such as age of kids in area, rules, size, and placement.

Write a proposal for decision makers. Figure out where to put your Loose Parts space, if you want to put any age restrictions on your play space, and come up with some rules. It helps to include research that supports your proposal. We did some research and included quotes that supported our ideas to help convince our decision makers.

3. Take proposal to decision makers.

Take your proposal to the decision makers. If they accept your proposal move on, but if they have questions and queries, if they do, answer them and hope that they accept it that time.

4. Think about fundraising.

Fundraising is pretty important, because you will most likely need to buy some materials and things. We worked with our PE teacher to hold an obstacle course events where students got pledges, but there are a million other ways you can raise money, like bake sales or just asking for donations.

5.Think about partners and donations.

Send home a notice with students to try to get donations from families. Also contact nearby companies in your community. HAVE STUDENTS CONTACT THE COMPANIES (it will be more likely you get what you ask for). We asked a local company to donate some 55 gallon drums, and they even delivered them!

6. Acquire materials.

Depending on how many material donations you get you might, you might need to buy materials. Some good materials are tree cookies, sticks, milk crates, twine, tarps, wood pieces, pallets, old tires. Really, anything can turn into a loos part!

7. Build. Lay down landscaping fabric, and wood chips. Put materials in area.

This is your last step before you open it for kids to play on your Loose Parts playground. You probably will want to lay down some landscaping fabric and wood chips underneath your materials, so you will most likely need to buy those as well. This is a good way to contain the area, and keep the grass from poking up. You will need to bring it all together, put the landscaping fabric, wood chips, and materials.

Open it up! Start your Loose Parts Playground.

Make sure everyone knows the rules. Then, see all your hard work pay off with the kids exploring it and having fun building forts!