Say Yes to Messy Play!!

Many parents are put off by messy play, as although the idea of finger painting or crafts sounds fun at first, the reality of paint, glue and glitter getting everywhere and the inevitable operation clean up that follows it soon sets in. However, many studies have shown that messy play is one of the best ways for our children to learn and develop, so now is the time to embrace it and get messy!

So what exactly is messy play and sensory play? In short, it is an activity that engages a child’s senses including eyes, ears, nose, mouth, touch, balance, or movement.

According to Piaget’s theory of development, children from the age of zero to eight are in two different stages of development: the sensorimotor stage from ages zero to two and the pre-operational state from age two to around seven or eight.

In both of these stages, play through experimenting and exploring their environment is critical for development.

The sensorimotor stage from birth to two is all about using the senses to explore this brand new world. How things feel, taste, sound, look like, and how your baby moves in order to explore these things aids in their cognitive learning. They quickly learn how much strength they need to pick up a block or if something feels soft or hard.

As a child grows and enters school, this learning through play and exploring is still a vital part of their cognitive development. They build on the sensory experiences they had as a baby and toddler to produce symbols and language and other academic skills.

It is vital as educators, parents, and therapists working with children in these early stages and ages that we don’t forget to just let them play. Learning and educational toys are important for child development.

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from “Serious Learning”. But for children play IS serious learning. PLAY is really the work of childhood.

– Fred Rogers

Importance of Messy Play

Promotes Physical Development

Hands-on play also offers many physical benefits, allowing your children to develop an awareness of their body and personal space whilst strengthening their muscle control.

Activities such as pouring, shoveling or drawing in the sand help build strength in the large muscle groups at the top of the arms and it is these muscles that then enable the smaller muscles in the hands and fingers to make precise and controlled movements. In messy play, children can play with tools to develop and practice their fine motor skills as well as their hand-eye coordination, until soon they can hold a pen or eat with a fork! Buy them the stackable cubes.

Using Jar Melo Finger Painting Kit with Kids

If you are pressed for time in setting up messy play activities, then Jar Melo Finger Paint Kits is a perfect solution for you. In early childhood education Finger Painting is often the very first painting experience children will encounter.  As simple as it may be putting paint into trays for little fingers to play and paint with, there are numerous reasons why finger painting kit is beneficial for child development and learning.

This kit comes in an attractive tin box that contains easy-squeeze 60ml tubes of non-toxic and washable 6 finger paints ( red, orange, blue, green, yellow, and white), 1 palette, 6 EVA seals, 2 white baseboard, 2 seal baseboard, 1 Creative stickers sheet, 1 Safety scissors;1 glue and 1 Guidance note.

These kits comes in 2 colors – Pink and Blue and make great birthday or holiday gifts too!!

So, what are you waiting for? Enjoy getting messy!

Interested? You can buy them all here: