Embrace the Messy

Let’s chat on messy, sensory play.

There are two types of people. One is the embracer of the chaos, the process over product enthusiast. The other cringes when rice hits the floor or a toddler with sticky hands is rapidly approaching them and there’s not a single pack of wipes in sight.

And usually, they marry each other. Or perhaps, they are co-teachers running a classroom together.

Based on this photo, I’ll let you guess which I am.

Here’s the thing I find about sensory play though- it is so loved. From toddler to big kid, sensory doesn’t have an age limit. It’s adaptable and moldable- the same collection of playdoh could make a bunch of green baby snakes for a preschooler and a multi-colored, detailed dinosaur for a second-grader. It’s one of the only activity genres that allows them to use all five senses at once and isn’t that kind of the point of childhood- to explore with all you’ve got?

Children engaging in sensory are developing motor skills as they use their hands & bodies to navigate the materials. They are furthering their vocabulary as they search for adjectives to describe what they are feeling or what they’re creating. Even social-emotional development is at play here as sensory is a wonderful tool for self-regulation. I’ve seen firsthand just how fast a child can calm down after holding a needoh, is that what they are calling the squishy things these days?

Just in case you need the reminder, the rice sweeps up easily & the baby can be hosed down, so try your best to just embrace the mess.