Messy play! Benefits of Messy Play
You either love it or hate it! Well if you hate it, hopefully I can change your mind… especially if you keep a very clean and organised house or setting.
Research shows that messy play is one of the best ways to learn. By being given the freedom to play with things that make a ‘mess’ children are given no expectations on what they should produce, in other words, they can focus on process over product. If they have no expectations of what it is that is to be produced they cannot go wrong. There are no restricting end goals… the possibilities are endless. If they cannot go wrong, they will develop the courage and confidence to be curious, make their own discoveries, problem solves, have a go and keep trying. All characteristics of effective learning that we all want all children to have in order to be a successful life long learner.
If children develop the characteristics of effective learning during their early years, they will be able to learn later with a growth mindset, not a fixed mindset.
Messy play or sensory play as it is also known helps children and babies learn how to use their senses to learn, being tuned into their senses helps children to understand the world around them.
During messy play children can contemplate and wonder ‘what happens if I do this’, in other words it enables them to learn to think for themselves. The possibilities are endless therefore children develop their divergent thinking skills.
Through this experience children can develop their communication and language skills and build relationships with those around them by testing ideas and discussing them.
Children are practising their fine motor skills during messy play, often using tweezers, sponges, brushes and scissors. Fine motor skills are needed to develop their hand and finger muscles ready for writing.
Messy play can also help children to self-regulate their emotions, it is often calming as well as interesting and allows children to be free from distraction.
Young children need as many tactile, multi-sensory experiences as possible to learn about the world. play that emphasises the active exploration of materials and their properties. We have created a booklet that will give you lots of ideas for messy play activities to set up in your Early Years setting.
If you need help getting parents on board you could give out this leaflet and set up this messy t-shirt display.
If this is not all reason enough just look at their little faces as they experience messy play!
Written by Katherine Houghton, Founder at Early Years Staffroom
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