Making open-ended resources available for older children

Open-ended play resources are something parents, caregivers and childcare facilities are encouraged to make available for children from the early years and into primary school. However, as children grow and advance through school the availability of these resources in home and educational settings reduces slowly.

Often this happens because the focus shifts to meeting academic standards and structured expectations. Older children are assumed to have ‘grown out’ of open-ended play, unless it comes in the form of art or crafting.

Yet, what if glistening gem blocks, curious wooden treasures or smooth metallic balls were simply there in classrooms, playrooms and even family living rooms, quietly waiting to be picked up, explored and enjoyed? Not as a distraction, but as a source of inspiration and an encouragement to play…without labelling it as ‘play’!

At tickit, we believe play should never end. In fact, if you spent a morning with us at our HQ you would find our resources on desks and centre stage in meeting rooms, ready to be handled, discussed, and marvelled at. This is because play does not belong only to young children. It’s a human instinct, and one that can benefit us at every age. This is why we are passionate about creative meaningful toys for everyone to enjoy!

Why open-ended play matters for older children

Cognitive & Creative Development

The imagination does not have an expiry date. Open-ended resources give older children the chance to invent, design and experiment without strict rules. Whether they are arranging, building, sorting, sketching or storytelling, these resources encourage flexible thinking, problem-solving and originality.

Emotional & Social Benefits

Life gets busy and demanding for children as they move into Key Stage 2 and beyond. They are balancing schoolwork, social pressures and more screen time than ever before. Unstructured play provides a welcome release. It gives them the space to relax, process emotions and recharge. When play is open-ended, there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, which creates freedom from judgment or expectation.

Group play with open-ended resources also encourages collaboration, leadership and compromise. Whether it’s working together on a large-scale build or creating a shared story, children learn important social skills through play.

Independence & Confidence

Older children value autonomy. Having access to resources they can dip into on their own terms encourages independence and self-direction. Creating something unique, entirely from their own imagination, builds resilience and confidence too. Every experiment, even the ones that do not have the expected outcome offer a chance to learn and grow. Displaying colourful and compelling products such as the tickit Gem Circle Mirror Tray, Translucent Colour Pyramid Builder or Colour Crystal Block Set in an inviting way could encourage children to reduce screen time, explore educational concepts and encourage creative thinking through play. If items such as these are left silently in an accessible place and their use is not forced, pushed upon or even suggested, parents, caregivers and educators may be surprised at the enthusiasm shown towards them and the creative ways they are used and played with from children of all ages.  

Supporting and Illustrating Learning

With focus increasingly on abstract learning and on-paper learning as children progress through school, the use of open-ended tactile resources can give children the concreate examples they are missing. For example, showcasing the tickit Solar System Discs as part of a classroom display will showcase, not just the imagery of the planets but the relative size compared to other planets. These wooden blocks are tactile and smooth but also robust, meaning one purchase for a classroom setting can be reused repeatedly in future years. In a home setting they can be used alongside reference books as homework helpers and even bedroom or playroom decorations.

Lifelong Skills

The skills nurtured and developed through open-ended play go beyond childhood. Flexibility, creativity, resilience and problem-solving are valuable for academic success and happiness in later life. Whether in science, technology, art or everyday problem-solving, these skills start with play in childhood. By making open-ended resources inviting and available older children the opportunity to explore and develop skills such as their fine-motor and logistical naturally through play for a much longer time in their lives. Children are pushed to grow up so quickly by their peers, this allows them to continue playing for much longer, just without the label! 

A resource for decades, not just days

If you are at the start of you toy-purchasing journey, now is the time to consider that investing in quality open-ended resources in the early years and beyond does not just provide children with toys for a short stage of development. It gives them tools they can return to over again as they grow, finding new ways to play and create with them at different ages. A set of tickit Gem Cubes that once built castles might later become a prop for imaginative role play, an architectural challenge, or even a calming sensory activity for a teenager. These resources evolve with the child, lasting not just years, but decades.

To conclude..

Older children still need play. It may look different as they mature, but open-ended resources keep their curiosity, give them freedom to express themselves, and support their holistic development into the later years of school and beyond. By making these materials available at every stage, we are giving children the chance to keep exploring, questioning, creating and having fun!