Impact of loose parts play on children’s mental well-being: A scoping review
Abstract
The rationale behind loose parts play interventions lies in the introduction of movable materials
and equipment into children’s play spaces to promote unstructured, child-led play. Such play
opportunities are increasingly recognized as essential, offering children valuable experiences that
support holistic development. This scoping review examined the extent of the literature on the
impact of outdoor loose parts play on children’s mental well-being. Out of 2,589 publications
screened, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Notably, none of the included studies explicitly
examined mental well-being as a primary outcome. While findings suggest that loose parts play
may support children’s mental well-being, clearer and more intentional conceptualizations of
mental well-being are needed to substantiate these claims. Overall, the evidence points to a
promising yet underdeveloped field, pointing to the need for well-designed studies that explicitly
conceptualize and measure mental well-being in relation to loose parts play.
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