The importance of messy activities for children should never be underestimated. Numerous studies have shown that messy play can make an enormous difference in the way children learn, improving both their creative and cognitive development. By allowing children to explore different textures and materials, early years practitioners will ensure that children in their care are using all their senses, particularly touch, and developing an understanding of the world around them in an enjoyable way.
The lack of focus required for messy play ensures that children don’t feel under any pressure learn and therefore don’t suffer stress whilst playing, allowing them to learn about different materials at their own pace and in their own way. For an early years practitioner, offering more than just the standard sand, water and Play-Doh could see children in your early years setting becoming more interested and inventive with their play.
Step outside of the standard messy play materials
The importance of sand and water trays shouldn’t be underestimated as messy play activities for children, especially if you offer a numerous sand and water accessories to the children in your charge. Here at Essentials for Education, we know only too well how cylinders, syringes, trowels and forks can spark interest in water and sand play. This is why our range includes a whole host of grabbers, scoops and funnels in bright, attractive colours that are sure to inspire. We also understand the importance of self-stimulation and learning and our range of Kinetic sand is great for this and fun too!
In addition, there are many other messy play ideas for children to consider, and getting creative with the messy play items you use could inspire and interest children in your care for longer. For example, Gellibaff, a material that turns water into ‘goo’ and back again via a dissolver is a fascinating material to work with, and adds a new texture to the mix, allowing you to take messy play in a different direction.
Messy play considerations for EYFS settings
Of course, one of the considerations EYFS practitioners have when planning children’s messy play is how easy it will be to clear up after the session has finished. However, this can be made easier if the right accessories are on hand. Here at Essentials for Education, we have a range of items to help make the setup and clear-up of messy play quicker and easier. Items such as Permafresh mats will help to soak up any small spills from the sand and water table, and will add a much-needed non-slip zone to the area, reducing the chance of children getting injured whilst playing. Similarly, splash mats and tablecloths will help to protect furniture and floors. Of course, another consideration is protecting children’s clothes from damage, so we offer aprons in both PVC and nylon in a range of sizes and bright colours too. And, while you clear up the messy play area, we have a range of maths, music and Heuristic items to keep children in your care occupied – all at school budget friendly prices.
Messy play for children can always be fun, and with the right equipment from Essentials for Education, you could offer EYFS children messy play activities that help inspire, challenge and excite them – everything a EYFS setting should do.
