exploring | Bluebird Family Centre

Messy child Learning child!

There are times when you pick up your child and think “Look at the state of you!” You might even despair at the stains on the new clothes that are on for the first time.

But worry not!!

Messy children are active learners!!

I am just learning to control my body so I may spill or smear glue or paint but it shows I am being creative!

I am learning to feed myself tricky runny stuff like cereal and milk – I may spill it down my clothes but I am learning to hold my spoon better each time I do!

I may have gotten more butter on myself than on my toast but I am learning about hand eye coordination and pressure – both things I need to do before I can start to learn to write!

I may get covered in sand and bring home half a beach but I am learning to investigate, about textures and cause and affect in the sand.

I might get soaked even with an apron but I am learning why hygeine is important, social skills and caring for others ads well as lots about waves, bubbles and splashes.

I might fall and get covered in mud but I am learning to keep trying hard things, developing my muscles and getting more confident.

I might get a rather dirty bottom sitting on the ground outside but I can take the time to investigate shaddows, explore different textures and temperatures of different grounds and might even discover some mark making while I’m down here.

ILetting me spread jam can be bery sticky and messy but I am learning about cohesion (stickiness) as well as developing all my movement skills to scoop and spread the jam.

I get into quite a mess when I explore things but I am using all of my senses to learn about different materials and substances – I am also learning which ones are safe to eat and which ones I cannot.

I am using all of my senses to explore materals – I am a real detective forming ideas and concepts about different things.

Getting my hands covered lets me explore textures and sensations as well as developing my wee hand muscles which will help me when I come to draw and write.

Stains are just a little record of some of the fabulous learning we have been doing!

I may take a tumble off a log or wall but risky play helps me to make sound judgements and decisions, I grow in confidence as I do this as well as developing those important balance skills that help my brain prepare to read and write!

Stretching over messy tables may get me dirty but I am developing my coordination, building my core strength and learning about distance and volume. Squeezing in beside my friends helps me learn about making friends, turn taking and social skills such as respecting personal space.

I may dribble while brushing my teeth but I need to do this as I learn to not only care for my teeth but also to control my mouth and tongue which will help me to speak more clearly.

Splashing in muddy puddles isn’t just fun – we can learn about suction, volume, pressure and waves – early physics!

The most interesting sea life doesn’t just come over to you – we have to go to it. Reaching across with the rod helps me develop my balance, strengthen my core muscles (which both will help me to write!) as well as getting the catch of the day!

Getting hands stuck into messy stuff allows me to experiment, learn about textures and sensations such as temperatures and liquidity. It’s early science!

We need to get right down amongst the sand and rocks in order to be able to properly investigate what lives there. We might get wet and sandy but we are mini marine biologists!

Pouring our own water/ drink and dribbling it all over the place is part of learning to control my movements and care for myself.

Stains that come from nursery can return to nursery!

That’s why we have nursery jumpers and shirts – so that you don’t need to worry about ruining the clothes a grannie just gave. And old trousers and shoes or wellies are the best for nursery too. You see we value mess, we know how much learning can take place in mess! (which is just as well as most of us go home covered too!)

So next time you see your child’s jumper like this:

…..then we know you’ll say, “Wow you have been busy learning today – what were you doing when you played outside?”

…. And remember that anything that doesn’t wash out can be worn as a badge of honour as a good learning experience!

Our boys and girls from the Little Blossom’s Room and the Sunshine Room have been having fun developing lots of new skills together through visits to the Gibshill Soft play.