Messy Play
Messy play is important for young children, giving them endless ways to develop and learn. All types of play are crucial for children’s development and early learning. Play helps children to; improve physical skills and co-ordination, work co-operatively and collaboratively, use all their senses to discover and explore their environment, and develop their imagination, creative thinking and ability to problem solve.
Playing with toys alone can limit opportunities to develop imagination, creativity and critical thinking. Messy play is inexpensive and open ended. Children will discover enormous numbers of opportunities for learning and play, through timeless and accessible messy play activities.
Ideas for messy play
Painting
You don’t just need brushes and an easel. Be inventive!
Dough/Play doh
Use with or without cutters and moulds. Encourage imaginary play such as rolling sausages for dinner or making cakes with decorations. Dough scissors are also good for fine motor control.
Basic recipe for play doh:
1 cup flour,
1 cup water,
˝ cup salt,
1 tbsp oil,
2 tbsp cream of tartar.
Put all ingredients into a pan over a medium heat until the mixture starts to bind, stirring all the time. Remove from heat.
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Keep in the fridge and change on a regular basis.
Remember: Dough harbours bacteria – if in doubt, throw it out!
Gloop (cornflower mixed with water)
Mix an amount of cornflour gradually with water until it binds. Place in a tray or shallow container and try to pick it up! Vary the consistency occasionally and for more exploratory experiences, let the children make it themselves and feel the cornflour dry and mix it up themselves.
You also could try exploring:
Drawing
Drawing doesn’t just have to be with a pencil and paper. Messy play offers valuable pre-writing skills. There are many ways to make marks from patterns in the gloop with your finger to lines in the sand with a lolly stick.
Try some of these suggestions:
Collage
Cutting and sticking is always a favourite. Getting used to using scissors will really help improve co-ordination. Encourage your child to use the hand most comfortable to cut with. Children can cut out their own shapes and have some pre-cut shapes they can use. It’s good to use a range of materials such as paper, card, magazines, felt, foam shapes, feathers, glitter, natural materials such as twigs, leaves and shells. Encourage your child to talk about their creation and praise them.
Sand and Water play
If using sand remember to only use play sand and sterilise with hot water regularly.
Use various bottles, jugs, scoops, sieves, funnels, tools and containers. Filling various containers with water or dry sand gives children the experience of feeling different weights. Pouring from one container to another introduces the relationships of capacity and volume. Children love to explore floating and sinking. Damp sand feels different to dry sand, let your child explore both. Remember water play can be explored in the bath!
You could try adding:
Junk modelling
When children work out how to balance one box onto another they are problem solving.
Messy play in the home
It may take a bit more time and thought when planning messy play activities but it is well worth the effort. Here are some helpful suggestions when planning messy play at home: