Messy Play | Just For Fun

The idea of messy, sticky, ooey-gooey art can be daunting to some parents.  The thought of paint or glue everywhere, let alone something more challenging such as fine glitter or pudding finger paints, is more than some want to take on.  I will say that as a parent of two children myself, there were days I was not sure I wanted to dive into such artistic endeavors.  There are great ways to have these experiences though, and I want to be sure that those of you that may steer clear, have an understanding as to why these types of experiences are so vital to a young child.  More importantly, there are great ways to make this type of art work in your home or outdoors. One thing to remember, your child is not concerned with where this art takes place.  They care about just being able to have the playful and fun experiences that you might be hesitant to try.  So it truly works to put them directly in the tub and let them paint away: try finger paints, pudding painting, spray bottles filled with water colors, or whatever you can think of including the fine glitter or glue.  They can use paper or just paint on the sides of the tub.  Clean up is simple.  It gives them an opportunity to develop their sensory-motor skills and enjoy something uniquely creative and joyful.  Doing these activities work great outdoors as well.  Pick a sunny day and head outside in clothes that can get dirty.  I even suggest that you give pudding painting a try!  You might just  find that you are laughing and having a great time right alongside your child! 

by Dave Poole | Comments (0)

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