MESSY PLAY THE STRESS FREE WAY
Colours, textures, smells, tastes. All the different ways babies explore and learn through sensory messy play.
There is something so wonderful in watching your baby having new experiences, whether it’s seeing something for the very first time, reaching out to touch it, putting it in their mouths to explore it, or rolling in it. Messy sensory play is such a fun and creative way to encourage baby to try new things, to build confidence and enjoy the adventure in discovery.
As I have evolved as a parent, and trained in more areas, I have come to realise just how powerful developmental play really is for our children from an early age. How it can help them understand themselves and the world around them. It can introduce babies and young children to basic mathematical concepts, such as opposites. Using contrasting sensory materials, such as wet vs dry, or hard vs soft, to encourage your child to engage in, compare and then sort them. It encourages gross and fine motor skills, helps language development,and teaches them about cause and effect. Essentially, they become tiny little scientists, exploring their world, hypothesising and constructing ideas, forming thoughts and understandings of how things work, and also helps to cultivate a love for learning. Not to mention the fact it inspires little ones to become more brave, fearless and adventurous in exploring something new.
All from play based activities. How incredible is that?!?
Another beautiful part of the sensory messy play experience, particularly for infants under 3 years, is that it’s something that should be enjoyed between baby and parent. In the first 1001 days of your childs existence (from conception up to 2 years), the most important relationship your baby has is with the primary carer.
That’s YOU honey!
Doing and creating together.
It’s in these magical messy moments where we bond, learn and grow as a little team. Attachment and adventures. So getting messy with your child has HUGE benefits for BOTH of you. It taps into that inner child, which lies dormant within us all, and allows us to just be present with our babies through creative play. Some of my happiest moments have been getting filthy with my baby, and not caring one bit that I’m covered in goo. But I’ve not always felt like this.
When I had my first daughter, nearly 10 years ago, the idea of setting up MORE MESS as a play station, my baby only playing with it for a short amount of time, and then the mess I'd be left to clear up afterwards, would put me off ever doing it. It felt laborious, overwhelming, and triggered my anxiety. So I relied heavily on taking her to classes where she could get filthy, but back then, they were few and far between.
It was actually during lockdown 2020, that things really changed for me. Stuck inside our flat, looking for ways to keep busy, entertaining my 3 year old, so I could home school my 7 year old, I started creating little sink small world play stations in the bathroom. And I wont lie…..I loved it! The setting up became my little mission each day. It was so satisfying creating different worlds, and watching my daughter stand on the step, and play happily. Sometimes for hours.
It really was a messy play miracle!
It brought so much joy, and the BEST bit was that the tidy up was a breeze. These mini play areas were a godsend during difficult times, and it made me see that developmental play doesn’t have to feel taxing. It’s not something to fear and avoid altogether. The messy play concept can be introduced, nurtured and encouraged very simply at home, outdoors and in a multitude of ways. Go big, go small, go outside, come to me. It can be done in so many simple and stress free ways.
The first thing to always remember, is how your baby or child is dressed for the mess. If its warm where they are playing and exploring, and it’s suitable, stripping baby down to their nappy can be a good idea. However, this isn’t always possible, and can also be a sensory overload for some little ones. So my preference is to have them DRESSED FOR MESS. So in an old vest and onesie. In clothes that you don’t mind getting filthy. In a puddlesuit. Whatever works best, ensures that your baby is comfortable, warm enough and has a protective layer when needed.
So here are my go to tips for bringing the mess without any stress:
FOOD- Once your baby is weaning, using meal times is a wonderful way to introduce messy play. Trying a variety of colours, textures and smells for your little one to feel, squish and taste will do the trick nicely. Allowing them to get as messy as possible is so important in the weaning phase, so try and lean into it. If the idea of mess in your kitchen feels too much, you can use mats and full highchair coverall bibs (Bibado is a great option) to reduce the clean up time. Or if you have a dog, get them to do the hard work for you.
HIGHCHAIR- Don’t just utilise the chair at mealtimes. Strap baby safely in, and let them explore on their tray. A great way to do this and reduce the mess too, is using re-useable freezer zip bags. Add a sensory base of your choice (my faves are chia seed slime or oobleck) add any sensory extras, seal and then tape to the tray securely. And boom- messy play without the mess.
TUMMY TIME-A great position to get baby into for some exploring. Sensory zip bags are great for this, but small tuff trays, cement trays, or play trays can work really well too . Just pop down a towel, get your baby comfortable, use a towel, roll or cushion to elevate them off the floor slightly, and then encourage them to explore the zip bag pouches or tray play area in front of them. so As soon as your baby shows any signs of frustration in this position, scoop them up, clean them off and that’s messy play done.
BATHPLAY- Once you baby is able to sit, using your bath to create a safe sensory play is an amazing way to introduce more diverse sensory bases and materials. And what I love about this option is that the tidy up is EASY PEASY. Just hose your baby and bath tub down, and then scoop out anything that can be reused or thrown away safely.
SINK PLAY- Creating small world play in a sink is so much fun, and because its such a small area, it automatically feels less overwhelming. Simply fill the sink, drop in some food colouring, and get creative with the landscape around the taps. Use leaves, wood, stones, flowers, foil, ribbons, playdough, baking powder fake snow, cooked pasta, lentils, foam, squirty cream, whatever you have, and then pop toy animals, fish, vehicles, people, fairies etc and watch your little one immerse themselves in the game.
MESSY PLAY PODS-These have been a game changer in my household. Crafty Pods are a great option, offering pop up playpens, designed to contain all the mess. These little wipe down pens come in various sizes, and are perfect to create a safe, sensory or messy play pit for your baby and their friends. The added bonus is that the mess (and baby) stays put in one place. So they’re great if you have a mobile baby, who is likely to trail mess through your house if given the opportunity.
GARDEN PLAY- If you have some outside space available, then utilising this for baby play is a great way to introduce more mess. Mudkitchens, mud pie or potion making, water, sand or chalk play. The little ones will love it, and being outside will give you some head space too.
WONDER WALKS-If all of this still feels like too much, then getting outside and having a walking adventure is the best option. Rain, snow or shine, you can turn these walks into a great sensory experience. If you’re on a wet walk, and you have a wobbley-toddley baby or older child, dress them in a puddle suit, and them them splash in puddles, sludge through mud, even roll around in it. Collect some interesting things as you go, and make some time to sit together and look at your treasures. If you’re on a dry walk, encourage your infant to take their shoes off and explore with their bare toes. Walking on grass, earth and sand bare foot not only feels wonderful, its also really good for your mental health.
TUFF TRAYS WITH COCO- One of my FAVOURITES! And what I use in my Baby Play and Massage, Movement & Mess sessions. Using large trays to immerse little ones in themed sensory play has become my new obsession. I love researching different ideas for fun, edible (where possible) and very messy ideas and inspiration for my classes. Incorporating food into my messy play has been a game changer. The babies LOVE it, every session is different, there are literally infinite ways to use everyday foods in creative ways, and the parents DON’T have to do the tidy up. So if you can’t bare the mess at home,but want to introduce messy play into your babys day COME AND SEE ME!
I’ll create, set up and clean away, whilst you enjoy playtime with your baby. PERFECT!
So go make some messy memories. You and your little one will have so much fun
Love CoCo