Open-ended play is the kind of play I grew up with, and the kind I wanted for my own children when I started Wonderie, This page is the long answer to the question I get asked most: what is open-ended play, and why does it matter?
What makes play open-ended
Open-ended toys can be used in many ways, by children of different ages, for years. Blocks, wooden animals, scarves, loose parts, a cardboard box. A play cloth is one of the most open-ended things you can own: it is a backdrop, a world, a landscape, a den, a blanket and a piece of wall art, depending on the day. The opposite is a closed toy, which does one thing, usually quite loudly, and is often finished with quickly.
Why it matters
When nothing is decided for them, children do the deciding. They invent characters and plots, which builds language. They solve the problem of how the fox crosses the river, which builds thinking. They play alongside a sibling or a friend and negotiate whose turn it is, which helps them build the social skills that matter most. Because there is no end point, open-ended play holds attention for far longer than you might expect. Parents tell me the same thing again and again: “they played for an hour and I did not hear a peep.”
How a play cloth fits in
A Wonderie cloth gives small world play somewhere to happen. Lay it flat and the farm animals have a farm, the dinosaurs have a land before time, the mermaids have a reef. Drape it over two chairs and it is a den. Hang it behind a play shelf and it is a backdrop for puppet shows. The cloth does not tell the story; it just makes the story easier to start. There is nothing extra to buy, which is rather the point. You can see lots of ideas on our Ways to play page.
A few gentle tips
- Put fewer things out. A cloth and a handful of animals invites more play than a whole toy box.
- Let the mess be. Open-ended play looks chaotic from the outside and is anything but from the inside.
- Resist narrating. If you join in, be a character rather than the director.
- Rotate. Swap the cloth or the loose parts every couple of weeks and the whole world feels new.
Where to start
If you are new to open-ended play, start with one cloth that matches what your child already loves: animals, the sea, space, the farm. Our play cloths are hand-illustrated on soft organic cotton, printed with non-toxic dyes, and made to sit alongside the toys you already have. They wash at 30°C, fold flat and tend to get passed down.
Thank you for being here x
