Messy play: Road to creativity
Hyderabad: What comes to your mind when we say “Messy”? Untidy, lack of neatness, disorganised, confused, cluttered etc. Parents often tell their children “Don’t make a mess.” The word messy is often misunderstood and is being undervalued. Messy play is an important part of the early years. When the children are involved in thorough play […]
Hyderabad: What comes to your mind when we say “Messy”? Untidy, lack of neatness, disorganised, confused, cluttered etc. Parents often tell their children “Don’t make a mess.”
The word messy is often misunderstood and is being undervalued. Messy play is an important part of the early years. When the children are involved in thorough play it becomes messy play. This is a part of the creative process that children develop. Children tend to be creative when they use materials in new ways, combine previously unconnected materials, and make discoveries that are new to them. Messy play enables children to do all these things. For example, mixing of colours, playing with mud, water, sand and manipulatives.
Messy play is important because there is no focus on the end product of what the child is making or producing. It gives children the freedom to explore all sorts of possibilities without any restrictions or instructions. It is enjoyable and enjoyment is something that is encouraged in the early years.
However, always remember to check materials for potential dangers and do not leave children unsupervised. Open-ended questioning from an adult supervisor is also very important. For example ‘I wonder what would happen if I add more water?’ Such comments draw the children’s attention to the possibilities for exploration without putting them under pressure to find a right answer.
Children can develop concentration and problem-solving skills. Build plenty of opportunities for messy play into the daily provision to reflect the children’s growing interest in this sort of play.
Nagajyothi Banda
DPS, Nacharam
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