Say the words 'messy play' and most practitioners see images of sticky, drippy little hands coming towards them.
But while the 'clear up' factor might be high, so too are the benefits of such play, as Tarina Bowring from the Hull Childminding Network explains. 'Messy play gives children so much. They learn about different textures and consistencies and see how things can be changed from solids to liquids.'
For Leanne Walker from Patchwork Pre-school in East Sussex, seeing the way in which children learn to concentrate is one of the key benefits. 'Just last week, we put out wet sand. The children loved it and were digging and building with it. It was not just the children, though, who enjoyed it. I found myself playing alongside them and exploring its properties.'
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
