Materials

Minimally-structured, open-ended materials of all sizes, drawn from life used in Anji Play programs include both highly-designed and found objects. The size and variety of these materials invite children to engage in large-scale construction, design, combination, recombination, revision, imagination, and self-expression.

Ms. Cheng designed over 150 materials including Anji blocks, planks, ladders, barrels, mats, carts, climbing cubes, and storage systems. Educators and community members in Anji County adapted, developed, sourced, identified, and designed thousands of other materials that engage the child’s body and mind in play. 

Anji Play materials meet the child’s needs to explore cause and effect relationships, engage in collaboration with peers, imagine, create, and challenge themselves at their highest level of ability. Anji Play materials and environments provide the greatest degree of possibility and complexity in play through minimal structure, open-endedness, inter-relatability, and sturdiness. 

Anji Play programs also include a wide variety of open-ended materials used in the classroom and other indoor environments. From blocks and manipulatives, to notebooks, pens, tools for measurement and documentation, and plants and animals, Anji Play environments include abundant materials that are easily organized and managed by the child in a free and open physical space.

Environments

Minimally-structured, open-ended, environments allow children to explore, imagine, and create. With distinct areas defined by activity and not theme or subject, these environments express trust in the ability of the child.

Anji Play outdoor environments maximize the child’s opportunities for imagination, inquiry, and contact with natural phenomena and elements. Water, sand, mud, trees, bamboo, ditches, tunnels, and hills are among the environmental features that engage children in endless exploration, discovery, risk-taking, problem solving, and knowledge creation.

The design and arrangement of indoor, outdoor, and in-between spaces allow children to play; organize and manage their own materials; move freely; complete daily routines independently; describe, express, and document their experiences and observations, and see these expressions and descriptions presented in ways that are accessible and prominent in the classroom and school.

Purchasing Anji Play Materials

Anji Play materials, including ladders, barrels, blocks, carts, mats, climbing cubes, and other materials and equipment, are available for purchase from Anji Early Childhood Play, Inc. (Hangzhou, China) and Anji Huihuang Bamboo, Inc. (Anji, China) through the coordination of Anji Education, Inc. (Albany, CA).

Materials will only be made available for purchase to programs, individuals and organizations that have completed* a one-hour phone interview with an Anji Play representative.

Complete this questionnaire, and register for an interview to begin the process of obtaining materials.

Anji Play Environmental Consulting

Anji Play representatives also provide specific input on the design, alteration, set-up and assessment of both pre-existing and planned indoor and outdoor learning environments in accordance with the the Anji Play Approach and Philosophy and the principles of True Play. These services are often provided as part of the Anji Play Piloting process, but can also be provided on a case-by-case basis to non-Anji Pilot sites.

Environmental consultation services will only be provided to programs, individuals and organizations that have completed* a one-hour phone interview with an Anji Play representative.

Complete this questionnaire, and register for an interview to begin the process of obtaining Anji Play environmental consultation services.

*Completion of the interview does not guarantee that materials or consulting services will be offered at that time.