What's Messy Play All About?

Learning takes many forms, but one of the most effective ways to learn is through experience. Getting stuck in is exactly what messy play is all about. Little ones need lots of hands-on experiences that stimulate multiple senses to learn about the world. Play with various materials is the perfect way for kids to get these sensory experiences.

Messy play lets young children get creative, allowing them to combine materials, play with them in different ways and make discoveries. Through this type of investigative play, children explore new textures, improve their hand-eye co-ordination and develop greater manual dexterity. Kids have real freedom with messy play, as there’s no right or wrong way to play, so they can use their imagination as they experiment. Choosing what they play with and what form their play takes means that sensory play helps to promote independence. With no set rules for messy play, it’s also very inclusive, so whatever their stage of development, children can join in.

Image via Wikimedia Commons by Miika Silfverberg

The possibilities for messy play are endless. A tray of cornflakes, custard and spaghetti offers three very different textures to explore and what happens when you mix them all together? Meanwhile, water play with jugs, cups and funnels gives kids the chance to measure and pour. When it comes to painting, why limit your little ones to a paint brush? Kitchen utensils like spatulas and whisks offer a different experience, as does printing with sponges, bubble wrap and vegetable cut outs.

However, children don’t need to get covered from head to toe in paint, sticky goo or soil, as relatively clean activities still come under the umbrella of messy play. Fun with bubbles and play dough creates little mess, but offers sensory stimulation. Dry materials, such as shredded paper and uncooked oats, rice or pasta shapes, can still be poured and mixed without the level of cleaning up that wet and sticky materials need.

Image via Wikimedia Commons by fir0002 flagstaffotos.com.au

Although you might have an idea about how messy you want your tot to get and provide an activity accordingly, with messy play it’s best to let your youngsters lead the way. If you go with a child-led approach, your baby, toddler or preschooler will soon show you how messy they like to get. Some kids relish squishing barefoot through jelly and getting up to their elbows in edible slime, while others like to proceed more cautiously. Whatever their preference, embrace it and let them get the most out of sensory play!

For messy play in West Cumbria, why not try out a session of Messy Play St Bees? We’re aiming to offer five different sensory experiences each month, based around a theme where possible. The first session begins on Tuesday 7^th June, so book your place for messy play near Whitehaven now via our facebook page.