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Benefits of messy play for preschoolers

 
Messy play is so much fun and comes with numerous benefits for preschoolers. From playing with water in the bath to creating something with playdough, experimenting with paint and lots of other exciting activities. Messy play provides preschoolers with a great opportunity to learn through unstructured play. There are so many ways preschoolers can benefit and have fun with mess!
Messy play is so much fun and comes with numerous benefits for preschoolers.

From playing with water in the bath to experimenting with paint and lots of other exciting activities.

Messy play provides preschoolers with a great opportunity to learn through unstructured play.

They can use their imagination and get messy with different materials and textures and use their senses to explore the world around them.

There are so many ways preschoolers can benefit and have fun with mess! There’s no right or wrong way when it comes to messy play.
 

Benefits of messy play for preschoolers


With plenty of research from play experts, our friends at Mud Mates tell us about some of the benefits of messy play for preschoolers.

From your preschooler’s creative development, to how messy play can help their language and cognitive skills and support their physical, social and emotional development too.
 

1. Creative development through messy play


Messy play is explorative and creative play. Preschoolers don’t need to worry about finishing a project, so are able to express their creativity however they like. This helps to build their self-esteem.

Preschoolers will often end up deviating from the initial messy play activity and create their own, alternate fun (and mess) with the materials they have been using.
 

2. Cognitive development through messy play


Problem solving skills are developed through messy play as your preschooler needs to decide how they will use their materials.

Your preschooler will also learn about cause and effect during their messy play or sensory play sessions.


3. Language development through messy play


Preschoolers are introduced to new words and meanings in messy play.

Fun words such as gooey, squishy, cold and soft are just some of the terms they learn.

Pre-writing skills are also developed, when your preschooler learns how to grasp, pour and improve their hand eye coordination.
 

4. Physical development through messy play


There are many opportunities during messy play and sensory play for your preschooler to build their fine motor skills.

This is done through mixing, pouring, shaking, squirting and even measuring water or other runny liquids.
 

5. Social & emotional development through messy play


Sensory play lets preschoolers make their own choices, which in turn helps them to become confident and happy decision makers.

Preschoolers learn cooperative skills when working beside others, plus develop their observation skills too.

More kids messy play articles to enjoy:
Source: This article was written by Mud Mates - Taking care of messy kids with protective over-garments, perfect for dirty, messy play, indoors and out.
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