On rainy days our children seem to be a lot less engaged and more bored than on days where they can access the outdoors. Children love to get their hands dirty and explore messy play keeping them focused and engaged. Messy play takes our children on a journey through theie experiances and preferences, developing childrens experiances in the world as they begin to understand textures and smells. Childrens imagination can be developed through messy play and messy play develops childrens concentration span levels. Another benefit of messy play is childrens communication skills are developing.
Here are some quick and easy messy play ideas for the family ;
1. Gloop play. Gloop is realy quick and simple to make. Find an old tray or bowl and add 2 cups of cornflour . Slowly add 1 cup of water and mix until the cornflour soaks up the water. Give your children spoons or utensils to play in the cornflour with or let them get stuck in with their hands. Children can be creative as they like when playing with the gloop and can handle it in any way. Its also fun for us parents to join in to. Children are using all of their senses , but mainly touch. For some extra fun before adding water , add some food colouring of your childs choice to make this activity more exciting and bright.
2. Flour paint. Using a small old empty jar add 2 spoons of flour and 2 tablespoons of water (if its to runny add some more flour until it becomes thicker). Add some food colouring into the different jars and begin to mix. Let your child finger paint to encourage and develop fine motor skills. Encourage your child to say the colours they can see and expand on their vocabulary by asking what colours they like , what will they paint , what have they painted , what colours can they see etc.
3. Home made playdough. All you need is 2 cups of flour , water , 3/4 cups of salt , 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar , 2 cups of luke warm water, food colouring and 2 tablespoons of veg oil. Mix together the flour , water and cream of tartar. Now add the water and oil. Cook on a medium heat stiring until thickened until it forms a ball. Take it off the heat and allow to cool. Once cooled knead until smooth and divide amongst your children. Provide your child with cutters, spoons , rolling pins , jar lids anything that can be pressed into the playdough leaving a pattern. Fine motor skills are being developed whilst your child plays with the playdough as they are using one handed tools developing mucles. Playdough can calm children down and keep them occupied for a long period of time. The use of rolling pins will develop your childs hand eye co ordination. To make the dough more exciting you can add senses such as lavender , pepper , carot , garlic , onion or even cocco powder. These senses may be new to your child and encourage them to smell different smells through play.
Messy play creates family fun and is a lovely way to get involved with youtlr childrens daily play. Messy play is highly engaging and lots of fun.
Happy Playing 🧤🧹🧽
Love mamma x
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