5 benefits of messy play - plus, the best toys to encourage their creativity
Experts reveal the benefits messy play can have on your child's development and we share some great toy ideas for this kind of activity
With Create Week (1-7 July 2024) encouraging kids to engage with their creative side, we share some great messy play ideas and dig a little deeper into how it can aid your child's development.
Toys that allow your child to tap into their creative side are nothing new, but they are still hugely popular with kids of all ages - there's even a couple of the best kids toys of 2024 that fit the bill. Arts and crafts cover a broad spectrum of toys too - from a piece of paper and some crayons or simple colouring books to messier versions including slime toys, clay modelling, and mud kitchens.
When it comes to constructive play, crafting is a great idea, and the messier it gets, the more you can take advantage of the benefits of sensory play at the same time. Messy play is the perfect time for your child to explore and interact with a variety of materials and boost their development at the same time.
What are the benefits of messy play?
Engaging in messy play can have serious benefits when it comes to your child's development. It not only stimulates their senses and imaginations, but can also help them develop their processing and fine motor skills and aid with their language development too.
- Messy play stimulates imagination and creativity. Toy experts at The Entertainer, say:“Parents could see numerous advantages by letting their children engage in messy play. These activities can help children improve various skills and are a great way of stimulating their imaginations and creativity."
- Messy play engages your child's senses. "Messy play is also a great way of developing sensory processing skills. The activity involves several senses including touch, sight and smell - allowing children to learn more about materials and textures while expressing themselves artistically."
- It's good for boosting fine motor skills. “Actions such as squeezing, scooping and pouring materials can improve hand-eye coordination while also being a form of entertainment. Fine motor skills are crucial for writing and drawing - highlighting how beneficial and educational messy play can be for children’s development."
- Messy play aids language development. As your child encounters new sensations and materials, it's a perfect opportunity for them to expand their vocabulary as they try to articulate themselves. You can encourage this by talking to your child as they play, commenting on sticky, rough or gloopy textures, any scents they might be picking up on, and any sounds that they might be making. All of this can help foster a better understanding of the world around them and boost their cognitive development at the same time.
- It can help ease feelings of anxiety. Messy play encourages kids to focus on their five senses, which can promote mindfulness and act as a grounding activity to help reduce anxious feelings.
But while messy play may offer loads of benefits, it's still, well, messy, which can be mega-stressful for parents. If you are looking for messy play toy ideas that keep the actual mess to a minimum, we've found some brilliant options below:
This three-in-one table can be used for sand and water play, or even as a drawing desk when you pop the lid on. It comes with a load of attachments and accessories to help your child interact in lots of different ways as they play. The best part? It can be used and stored outside and it's super easy to clean. Suitable from two years old.
Keep the slimy fun contained with this dinosaur-themed slime set that comes with its own inflatable tray. As well as eight dino-figures, you also get five bags of slime mix so you can play with it again and again. When playtime is over, the slime is biodegradable and drain safe. Suitable for kids aged three and over.
Suitable for kids from the age of three, sometimes all you need is some paint and some paper. Let kids use their hands and feet to create their artwork, or find fun textured items like leaves, pinecones and sticks to use as paintbrushes instead. This paint set can be used outdoors, comes with 10 classic colours, and is easily washed off skin and clothing.
With any kind of messy play, make sure your kids are supervised at all times.
For more expert advice on how to make the most out of your child's play time, child development expert and GoodtoKnow panellist Dr Amanda Gummer explains the three stages of play all parents should know, and shares the idea of the balanced play diet.
GoodtoKnow Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
Sarah is GoodtoKnow’s Consumer Writer & Money Editor - which means she writes about everything from this year's top toys and the newest toy releases, to discounts on days out and childcare costs. Sarah is passionate about helping mums save money wherever they can - whether that's spending wisely on the right toys and kidswear or keeping on top of the latest news around child benefit, the motherhood penalty. A writer, journalist and editor with more than 15 years' experience, Sarah is all about the latest toy trends and is always on the look out for toys for her nephew or Goddaughters so that she remains one of their favourite grown ups. When not writing about money or best buys, Sarah can be found hanging out with her rockstar dog Pepsi, getting opinionated about a movie or learning British Sign Language.
-
Evolution of Barbie explained: 6 ways the iconic doll has adapted over the years
We look at how Barbie has changed over the years, as the iconic doll celebrates its 65th birthday
By Sarah Handley Published
-
How do air traffic controllers make sure flights stay safe? An explainer for kids by The Week Junior
Air traffic controllers make sure thousands of planes stay safe
By The Week Junior Published
-
De'longhi Coffee Machine toy review - an impressive replica, but is it worth your money?
I tested the De'longhi coffee machine toy from Casdon with a four year old - here's our verdict on whether it's worth the £25 price tag
By Sarah Handley Published
-
I tested the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Kit with a couple of kids - here's our verdict
We review the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Kit to see if it's worth your money
By Sarah Handley Published
-
5 most valuable vintage Lego sets, according to a Lego expert - do you own one?
These vintage Lego sets could be worth serious cash - here's what to do if you have one at home
By Sarah Handley Published
-
I had hours of fun testing this toy with a six-year-old, and now it's at its lowest ever price for Prime Day
Cookeez Makery is the toy I wish I had when I was a child, and now it's an absolute bargain in the Prime Day sale
By Sarah Handley Published
-
I'm a toy tester and these 35 Amazon Prime Day toy deals are still available, but not for long
These Amazon Prime Day toy deals are still live if you want to grab a last-minute bargain
By Sarah Handley Last updated
-
I tested the Cricut Joy Xtra and it turned me into a crafty mum in just one evening
This nifty little gadget can take you from zero to hero in all things crafting
By Heidi Scrimgeour Published
-
Yoto audio player review - is it worth the money?
We tried and tested the Yoto 3rd generation audio player for kids to see if it's worth the price tag and how it compares to its mainstream competitor Tonie - here's how we got on
By Sarah Handley Published
-
The Entertainer's flash sale this weekend includes brand new releases and expert approved buys - here's what we've got our eye on
Major savings to be had this weekend in The Entertainer's flash sale - here's what we're adding to our basket
By Sarah Handley Published