When children explore their environment, they do so with all of their senses. It isn’t just the traditional five like touch, taste, sight, smell, and sound; it’s also their internal senses. As children play, they engage in their movement, balance, and position. Having the opportunity to messy play is much different from their other play options because the emphasis is on their senses. Their senses amplify whatever activity they engage in. It also supports experimentation, investigation, and scientific thinking.
Why Messy Play Is Important
A lot of parents shy away from messy play because the cleanup from an afternoon of arts and crafts can be a nightmare. Finger painting sounds fun, but it isn’t as much fun for parents as it is for children. Glitter gets everywhere, Play-Doh gets stuck on the carpet, and even though it’s messy, it’s important for children’s development. Choosing a childcare centre that offers messy play is a great way for parents to escape cleanup and ensure their little ones are exploring all of their senses.
The Benefits of Messy Play
Fosters Curiosity
The beauty of messy play is there’s no one way to do it. As long as you are giving children the freedom to explore and experiment with age-appropriate objects without an end goal, you’re doing it right. Action figures and dolls are a lot of fun, but they are restrictive in how they can be used. With paint, paste, sand, chalk, Play-Doh, and water, children are free to let their imaginations run wild. Messy play fosters curiosity, encourages exploration, and inspires imagination.
Cognitive Development
Messy play bridges connections that help children learn similarities and differences. It’s hands-on, self-centred, and self-directed play that builds cognitive development and enhances memory, and encourages different ways of thinking and learning.
Builds Fine Motor Skills
Messy play encourages children to pick items up and explore materials and textures, allowing them to squeeze, squish, and flow. Messy play aids fine-motor skill development, which benefits the muscles and movements in charge of tying shoelaces, threading needles or using cutlery or writing instruments. When you plan messy play for young children, you have to factor in how often items end up in little mouths. So be sure to use non-toxic or edible objects.
Inclusivity
Messy place is suitable for children of all ages and development levels. It doesn’t matter what age they are, nationality, or their ability, every child can get involved and feel like part of the group.
Spatial Awareness
Spatial awareness is the ability to understand where you are in relation to structures and objects and where they are in relation to each other. And messy play helps children build it, along with hand-eye coordination, balance, and body control.
Language Development
As children encounter new objects, textures, and experiences, they are encouraged to explore their vocabulary. Slime might elicit a yuck, while sand might evoke a wordless gasp. Objects can be soft or slimy, dry, crispy, cold, warm, and gooey. Helping children understand how to describe new items is great for developing their language.
Creativity
It goes without saying – messy play breeds creativity. It’s an opportunity for children to explore and create. And to see just how far they can stretch their imagination while having a whole lot of fun.
Final Thoughts
Children need a variety of options in play to develop. If you are looking for a childcare centre in Secret Harbour such as Goodstart Secret Harbour, be sure to discuss the different types of play the centre provides children, and ask if your children will have an opportunity to engage in messy play, puzzle play, heuristic play, home corners, and climbing equipment.
