In today’s early childhood settings and language classrooms, supporting children’s language development is one of the most important things to consider.
While structured lesson plans and targeted instruction are valuable, research and practice increasingly show that open-ended resources play a powerful role in enhancing language skills, especially when used strategically within play and exploration.
We will explore why open-ended resources matter and how to use them to support children’s expressive and receptive language development.
What Are Open-Ended Resources?
Open-ended resources are materials that do not have a single prescribed purpose or outcome. Instead, they invite exploration, creativity, and imaginative play. Examples of open-ended resources include:
- Loose parts such as boxes, crates, and natural materials like sticks or shells
- Picture books and storybooks related to children’s interests
- Bricks, fabric, play dough, and other manipulative materials
- Everyday household objects used in play and storytelling contexts
These resources contrast with closed, single-purpose toys or materials that come with rules and expectations. Open-ended resources allow children to form their own meanings and narratives, which is a key driver of language development.
How Open-Ended Resources Boost Language Development
Through the nature of its versatility, open-ended resources can support language development in a number of ways. We have choses a few ideas for you to consider:
Encourage Conversation and Vocabulary Growth
Unlike structured activities that often have a correct answer, open-ended resources invite children to describe, explain, and narrate what they are doing. During play with loose parts or storybooks, children naturally engage in back-and-forth talk – describing ideas, building narratives, and negotiating roles with peers or adults.
This type of interaction expands vocabulary because children need to use rich, varied language to communicate ideas, rather than simply answering yes/no questions or ticking boxes. Research shows that environments with extended, responsive talk and open-ended questions lead to more expressive language output and a richer vocabulary.
Build Narrative and Storytelling Skills
Open-ended play naturally supports storytelling, which is a foundational component of language development. When children build structures with blocks or act out scenarios with loose parts, they often invent stories: “The castle needs a bridge!” “The dragon flew over the river!” These narratives involve sequencing (beginning, middle, end), character descriptions, and dialogue – all essential elements of advanced language use and later literacy.
Support Social Language and Communication
Open-ended resources often encourage collaborative play. When children work together, they must negotiate roles, take turns speaking, and respond to each other’s ideas. These social interactions help develop pragmatic language skills and support using language appropriately in social contexts, listening, responding, and building on others’ contributions.
Fostering Critical Thinking and Expression
Children engaging with open-ended resources are not just repeating words; they are creating meaning. This requires higher-order thinking such as comparing, hypothesising, and explaining – actions that naturally call for sophisticated language. Whether they are explaining how their block tower will stand up or telling a story about their play, this deep engagement promotes expressive language growth that goes beyond memorised phrases.
Expert Insights on Open-Ended Resources from Olivia Haslam
In an episode of the TTS Talking Early Years Podcast, education expert Olivia Haslam (formerly Olivia Kirkby) highlights the importance of open-ended resources in early childhood settings. She explains that:
- Open-ended, cross-curricular resources enhance language, cognitive skills, self-regulation, and self-discovery. By allowing children to take the lead in play, they organically encounter new words and concepts as they create meaning.
- When practitioners show excitement about the resources and environment, children are more engaged and more likely to talk about their play. This highlights an important relational element: it’s not just the resources that matter, but how adults interact with children around those resources.
- Simple additions, like refreshing the book corner or introducing loose parts, can support language across all developmental areas in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Olivia emphasises open-ended play as not just a “nice to have,” but as a core element of language-rich environments.
How to Use Open-Ended Resources to Enhance Language Skills
Open-ended resources can be a great way to improve and enhance language skills. Here are a few examples of how to improve your learning environments to benefit individual children and class groups:
Set Up a Language-Rich Environment
An intentional language-rich environment includes variety, so children can explore and have a choice in how they learn. Some examples of how to equip your classroom include:
- A rotating selection of books that align with children’s interests
- Accessible loose parts (blocks, crates, natural items from outdoors)
- Materials that encourage symbolic play (e.g., scarves, containers, play dough)
The key is that these materials must be visible, enticing, and accessible so children choose to use them in meaningful ways.
Combine Resources with Responsive Adult Interaction
Adults should not just “set and forget” resources. Engaging meaningfully with children amplifies language experiences:
- Narrate what children are doing to model vocabulary
- Ask open-ended questions like “I wonder what happens next?” or “Can you tell me about this?”
- Follow the child’s lead rather than directing play
This responsive interaction densifies language exposure and supports children’s ability to express themselves.
Encourage Storytelling and Narrative Play
By using open-ended materials to build stories, you can encourage children to confidently tell stories and explore their own voice. Here are some ideas you can consider to encourage storytelling:
- Ask children to describe their creations
- Encourage them to sequence events (“First we… then we…”)
- Invite them to retell stories using props or play figures
These ideas not only build narrative structure but reinforce vocabulary and expressive language.
Support Peer Collaboration
To invite and welcome collaboration in your educational setting, pair children or create small groups to play together with open-ended resources. Collaboration encourages:
- Turn-taking in conversation
- Asking and answering questions
- Negotiating ideas
These interactions develop pragmatic language skills — using language in social contexts, listening, responding, and elaborating.
Blend Open-Ended Resources Across the Curriculum
It’s important not to confine open-ended resources to just play time or free periods in the school day. By thinking outside of the box, these resources can support key curriculum areas, including:
- Maths (e.g., creating shapes and talking about patterns)
- Science (e.g., exploring natural materials and describing observations)
- Literacy (building stories and vocabulary through role-play and books)
This cross-curricular integration ensures language practice permeates all aspects of learning.
Real-World Examples of Open-Ended Resources in Action
Here are practical ways educators and caregivers can bring open-ended materials into everyday learning:
Use loose Parts for Creative Play
You could provide a basket of mixed materials – crates, tubes, buttons, shells – and invite children to build whatever they imagine. Ask them to explain their choices and what they are making. Whether they build a house, a car, or a bridge, it’s their opportunity to have the space to be creative and share their ideas.
Storytelling with Everyday Objects
Turn simple household items into narrative prompts. For example, a scarf becomes a dragon’s cape, a cardboard box a castle, and a wooden spoon a magic wand. Ask questions like, “What happens next?” to encourage descriptive language and to invite the children to develop their story verbally or with the resources around them.
Role-Play Scenarios
Set up pretend environments such as cafes and shops with props. Role-play encourages children to practice conversational language, ask questions, and describe roles and actions. Children may build their setting with loose parts or use smaller items to represent ideas like food or money.
In Summary – Engage with Open-Ended Resources
Using open-ended resources isn’t just about play; it’s about creating a language-rich ecosystem where children can:
- Explore and express their ideas
- Encounter rich vocabulary naturally
- Practice narrative and pragmatic language skills
- Engage deeply with peers and adults
When educators combine open-ended materials with responsive interactions and purposeful questioning, children’s language and communication skills flourish.
From loose parts to storytelling, open-ended resources unlock opportunities for meaningful, playful, and powerful language development. This can set the foundation for lifelong learning success.
