Messy play is one of the best ways to learn. Messy play is not always messy. Some children don’t like to get wet or sticky and don’t like some textures on their hands so messy play uses dry resources too. Messy play can happen indoors and outdoors. Our outdoor area is still a work in progress so please bear with us as we develop a messy area near the mud kitchen with the intention of having a cleaner play area/grass area around the path and the Peerie Hoose.
Here are some important things that children learn through taking part in messy play activities.
It Fosters Curiosity, Imagination and Exploration
Exploring and playing with materials such as sand, dry rice or pasta, water, chalk, paint, play dough or gloop type textures, helps develop our imaginations. When playing with sensory textures we make discoveries about the world around us and our curiosity is stimulated. Having freedom to explore and to problem solve alone, and with friends, develops self confidence, thinking skills, imagination and language skills which are all vital for learning.
It Encourages Communication and Language Development
Messy play helps develop communication and language skills and encourages speech. Describing and talking about sensations and textures helps build vocabulary as we learn new words and phrases. Taking part in messy play gives us lots of opportunities to develop questioning skills which are important for literacy. We ask questions such as “I wonder what happens when I do this? I wonder if the feeling of this will change if I add something to it?” By sharing messy play with others we learn how to make friends and have opportunities to test and discuss our thoughts and ideas.
It Practices Good Concentration and Nurtures Future Skills
High concentration levels are needed while engaging in messy play. When we explore objects and textures we engage all of our senses to thinking through our discoveries and trying to communicate them. Being able to focus and concentrate are essential learning skills.
It Promotes Physical Development
Activities such as pouring, shovelling, digging and drawing on large surfaces or in the sand and mud helps to build strength in the large muscle groups at the top of the arms. These large muscles help to stabilise our shoulder blades and help the smaller muscles in our hands and fingers to make precise and controlled movements. All of this is essential for sitting and for writing.
Through messy play we develop our fine motor skills often using tweezers, sponges, brushes and scissors. Fine motor skills are needed to develop our hand and finger muscles ready for writing.
Thank you for having a look at our messy play blog.
