MESSY PLAY AND ITS BENEFITS:

Is messy play helpful for children?
Yes! Messy play is extremely important and helpful for a child’s development.
• Encourages to explore new textures
• Helps to manipulate different materials through touch.
• Allows to explore the environment
• Enhances learning, language and creativity.

Not only this!!
It also improves a child’s physical development as well!

The advantages of Messy Play for a Child’s Physical Development

Gross Motor Skills:

• (When children jump on dry leaves and water, run on grass, throw water or sand or make large impressions on wall or board using paint brush, watering plants, mopping floor,)
• Children use the large movements using their hip, knees, shoulders and elbows to strengthen muscles which support balance, coordination and strength.

Fine Motor Skills:

• (Messy play helps young children develop their early motor skills. Using different actions to squeeze, pound, rub using different materials such as foam, sand, play dough, paint etc., )
• Children learn to use, refine and strengthen their finger, wrist , elbow and shoulder muscles.
• Also, it enhances Bilateral coordination and imitation skills. (scoop up and transfer material to other container, collecting material using both hands and imitating actions through messy play.)

Attention and concentration:

• Experimenting with messy play through touch also enhances the children’s focus and attention.
• (messy play activities such as sorting different texture materials, cutting shapes out of play dough or copying given shapes with clay)

Spatial Awareness:

• Messy play also makes children more body aware, which gives them the opportunity to learn about boundaries.
• Helps to respect other’s space and develop social skills.

• ( group messy play activities, such as playing imaginative play with kitchen set, dry and wet textures such as water, paint, sand and play dough; )

By : Tamanna Bhardwaj
Occupational Therapist