Get Messy With Messy Play

Messy play is exactly what it sounds like—fun, hands-on exploration with messy materials! Whether it’s gloop, slime, finger painting, or water play, messy play gives children the chance to engage with a variety of textures and stimulate their senses. It’s a fantastic way to support a preschool child’s learning and development. And while it might sound like chaos, our five easy steps will help you prepare, making cleanup a breeze.

Why Messy Play Matters

Messy play is not only fun, but also calming, and it ignites children’s natural curiosity. It encourages them to explore how different materials feel and react to their touch. With tools like spoons, scoops, and brushes, children also build hand-eye coordination while practicing skills like pouring, measuring, mixing, and scooping.

One of our children’s favorites is gloop – a non-Newtonian fluid that behaves like both a liquid and a solid. Slowly run your fingers through it, and it feels smooth and runny, but give it a quick slap or mould it, and it hardens. This unique texture makes gloop perfect for sensory exploration. For added fun, try mixing in some food coloring to create swirls of color or a drop of essence for an extra sensory experience.

How to Prepare for Messy Play

1. Set up a designated area outdoors for easy cleaning.
2. Dress children in aprons, old clothes, or togs.
3. Use low tables or trough trays for easy access to materials.
4. Provide containers for pouring, scooping, and mixing.
5. Keep a tub of clean water and a towel nearby for quick hand washing.

With a little preparation, you can turn messy play into a creative, engaging, and stress-free experience for everyone!

Messy Play Recipes

GLOOP

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Cornflour
• 1 cup cold water
• Food colouring (optional)
• Flavour essence (optional)

Method:

1. In a bowl, add cold water to the cornflour.
2. Stir until all of the water has been absorbed.
3. Add a few drops of food colouring and/or flavour essence (optional), and stir.

WATER PLAY

Here’s a list of items you can use for water play at home that will keep children engaged while supporting their sensory and fine motor development:

• Plastic Containers and Bowls
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Sponges
• Squirty Bottles
• Funnels
• Colanders or Strainers
• Watering Cans
• Toy Boats or Floating Toys
• Ice Cubes
• Food Coloring or Bath Crayons
• Plastic Animals or Action Figures
• Sponges and Brushes

FINGER PAINTING

Here’s a simple and safe homemade finger paint recipe perfect for your preschool child at home:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of flour
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 teaspoons of salt
• 2 cups of cold water
• Food coloring or natural colorings (e.g., beet juice, turmeric)

Instructions:
1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Add Water: Gradually add the cold water to the dry mixture, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
3. Cook the Mixture: Pour the mixture into a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens to a smooth, paint-like consistency (about 5-7 minutes).
4. Cool Down: Remove from heat and let the mixture cool completely.
5. Add Color: Once cool, divide the paint into separate containers and add a few drops of food coloring to each, stirring well to mix. You can also use natural dyes like beet juice (pink), spinach water (green), or turmeric (yellow).

This finger paint is smooth, safe, and perfect for little hands to explore creativity while learning through sensory play!

SLIME