Make a Makerspace
A kid makerspace in your home is a dedicated area where kids can freely explore, create, and build using hands-on materials, sparking imagination and problem-solving skills.
This is what the camp makerspace looks like!
Creating a Loose Parts Makerspace for Kids at Home
Why a Loose Parts Makerspace?
A loose parts makerspace allows kids to explore, build, and create freely, stimulating their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Loose parts are open-ended materials—such as buttons, sticks, or fabric scraps—that can be moved, stacked, taken apart, and reassembled in endless ways. This type of play fosters:
Creativity and Imagination: Children use ordinary items to invent and express ideas, with no set instructions.
Fine Motor Skills: Handling and manipulating various materials helps develop hand-eye coordination and precision.
Social Skills and Cooperation: When shared, loose parts play encourages teamwork, negotiation, and shared problem-solving.
Sense of Autonomy and Confidence: Children become self-directed, making decisions about their creations, which builds confidence.
How to Set Up a Loose Parts Makerspace
Designate a Space
Choose a safe, accessible area that’s easy to clean up, such as a corner in a playroom, part of the living room, or a small area of the garage.
Consider using a low table, mats, or an open shelf where kids can easily reach materials.
Create a System for Organizing Materials
Use bins, baskets, or jars to store materials by type, such as “natural items,” “building tools,” “textiles,” etc.
Label containers (either visually or with words) to make clean-up easy for kids and help them learn to sort and categorize.
Encourage Exploration and Creation
Provide basic tools like scissors, tape, and glue, but avoid structured kits or instructions to keep the space open-ended.
Allow children to explore the materials independently or give occasional prompts like “Can you build a bridge?” or “What would a tiny house look like?”
Rotate Materials Regularly
Introduce new loose parts periodically to keep the space fresh and engaging, inviting different ways of thinking and creating.
What You’ll Need
Loose Parts Materials
Recyclables: Cardboard, bottle caps, paper tubes, plastic lids, containers
Household Items: Buttons, clothespins, yarn, paper clips, fabric scraps
Building Supplies: Small wooden blocks, LEGOs, nuts and bolts, craft sticks, pipe cleaners
Creative Tools: Washable markers, crayons, glue, tape, child-safe scissors
Storage Solutions
Stackable bins, baskets, jars, trays, and caddies that are easy for kids to open and sort through.
Low shelves or rolling carts to keep materials organized and within reach.
Work Surface
Use a low table or mat where kids can spread out their materials. You might want a drop cloth for messy projects and a storage area for larger, unfinished projects.
Pro tips from the Camp team!
Let Kids Lead: Encourage independent play without too many rules or instructions, allowing kids to explore in their own way.
Involve Kids in Clean-Up: Make sorting part of the play by inviting children to categorize and store materials at the end of each session.
Document Creations: Consider taking photos of their creations for a “maker’s portfolio,” fostering a sense of pride and achievement.
Embrace Imperfection: Letting go of expectations helps children take more risks and think outside the box in their creations.
Get stuff from outside: cheap natural materials like acorns, pinecones, rocks, sticks etc… fun to gather fun to build with!
A loose parts makerspace is an enriching, flexible addition to your home that nurtures children’s curiosity, creativity, and confidence. With simple materials and a bit of organization, you can create a magical world of exploration and invention right at home!