Welcome to the Crowdsourcing Mornings segment! Every weekday morning, Geek Alabama talks about and features one crowdsourcing project from crowdsourcing sites such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and others. The hope with Crowdsourcing Mornings is to feature and help a project be successful and reach its fundraising goal. Please enjoy today’s featured project!
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What do problem solving, innovation, and creativity have in common? They all develop from open-ended PLAY!
Hi, I’m Angela Odusanya, and my mission is to ensure that children have ample opportunities for unstructured play in today’s overly structured world. I believe that by inspiring children to be more creative, we can nurture their problem-solving skills, innovation, and resourcefulness from an early age.
Children need to be inspired to be creative again.
Over the last decade I have noticed that more children have a difficult time knowing what to do when left to play without clear instructions. This is because so many children lack open-ended play experiences. Instead, they are surrounded by structured activities, screens, and toys with predetermined outcomes. While these have their place, it’s crucial to provide children with the space, time, and resources to explore their own imaginations and become confident, creative thinkers and problem solvers.
That’s where loose parts come in.
Loose parts are simple materials like rocks, sticks, buttons, and fabric scraps that children can use in limitless ways to unleash their creativity. The beauty of loose parts play is that the only limit is a child’s imagination. However, too much structured play shrinks a child’s imagination. That’s why my book is so important. By looking at the world through Amelia’s eyes, children will be inspired to be creative.
By engaging in open-ended play with loose parts, children develop academic concepts too, such as patterning, symmetry, spatial awareness, and geometry. Early literacy skills emerge as well, such as storytelling and editing. They also learn essential skills like planning and problem-solving.
There is a lack of children’s books available that focus on loose parts
Amelia’s Loose Part Art, aims to fill the gap in children’s literature by promoting the wonders of loose part art. Through the eyes of Amelia, the main character, readers will explore ways to expand their imagination and engage in this form of art. Loose part art is not only low risk, but also appeals to children who may not typically enjoy drawing or painting. It allows them to experiment and make adjustments easily, fostering a sense of creativity and self-expression in all children.
Illustration from the book
As an educator, I have witnessed the importance of promoting loose part art in early childhood and elementary school classrooms. However, I noticed a lack of books addressing this valuable topic. That’s why I decided to write this book, which will complement existing creative programming in classrooms and extend the invitation for loose part art to the home environment as well.
As of June 28th, this project has raised $2,800 of their $4,190 goal. This project has 30 days left to raise the $4,190 or it will not be funded. For a pledge of $20, you will get one book. For a pledge of $39, you will get two books. To learn more and to pledge money, go to: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/amelias-books/amelias-loose-part-art?
