As the school term winds down, it’s normal to feel a little daunted by the weeks of holidays ahead — especially when your child’s attention span barely stretches past a few minutes at a time. Messy play is one of the easiest ways to fill those long summer days, and it’s brilliant for developing fine motor skills, creativity and social skills too. Survive the summer with these easy messy play ideas from Esther O’Sullivan of Messy Hands.
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Messy play can sound great in theory, but the reality of setting it up can feel daunting — the mess, the stress, the time it takes to get going. Here are three ideas which are simple to set up, won’t cost much, and will keep children entertained for far longer than you’d expect.
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3 Easy Messy Play Ideas
#1. Empty the Cupboards!
A bag of rice, pasta or porridge oats will provide hours of entertainment. Pour it into a plastic box, baby bath or washing-up bowl — whatever you have to hand — then add a few cups, jugs and spoons for children to mix and pour with.
They’ll love it, and a quick hoover afterwards will clear up the mess. For extra fun, add a little food colouring to the rice or pasta shapes — though the plain version is just as much fun on its own.
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#2. Splashing About!
Water is great fun for young children and couldn’t be simpler to set up. The trick is to keep the quantity to a minimum — an inch or two at the bottom of a plastic container is all you need. Set it on top of a couple of towels to keep spillages to a minimum.
Some of the most popular additions we’ve tried at our Messy Sessions include:
- Washing socks – throw in a pile of odd socks and a squirt of washing-up liquid to make bubbles, then let the children splash about. Pegs and a small airer let them peg up the socks once they’ve “washed” them.
- Sieves – pop a few old plastic toys in the water and give the children a sieve so they can scoop up without splashing everywhere.
- Tea bags and cups – let them “make tea”. Fruit teas work well here, as they’re caffeine-free, which helps since the children will inevitably drink some!
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#3. Flour Power!
A bag of flour is cheap, easy to find, and makes for great messy play.
Mix two cups of flour (any type) with a tablespoon of oil for a lovely play consistency, sometimes known as “cloud dough”. Mixing it in a deep container helps keep it off the floor, and the oil limits the flour dust. Small bowls, cupcake cases or spoons make it even more fun.
Or add some butter and water to make pastry, and let the kids design their own biscuits!
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A Note on Getting Started
You might find your child is a little wary of messy play at first — that’s completely normal. They may not be sure what to do, or they might even think it’s a trick (after all, they’re usually told not to make a mess!). If this happens, sit down next to them and play yourself. Show them the different ways you can pour, mix or build. Within a few minutes, you’ll likely find them up to their elbows in it. Happy messing!
Frequently Asked Questions
What household items work best for messy play?
Pantry staples are ideal — rice, pasta, porridge oats and flour are all cheap, easy to find, and great for little hands to explore. Water is another simple option that needs almost no preparation.
How do I keep messy play from becoming too messy?
Keep quantities small — a shallow layer of water or a modest bowl of rice goes a long way. Setting containers on top of towels, and doing messy play activities on a washable floor or outdoors, also helps keep clean-up manageable.
My child doesn’t want to join in — what should I do?
This is very common. Sit down and start playing yourself, showing them how to pour, mix or scoop. Most children join in naturally once they see it’s allowed and see how it works.
Is messy play actually good for my child’s development?
Yes — messy play supports fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, creativity and social skills, all through everyday sensory exploration.
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Looking for more ways to keep the kids entertained this summer? Browse our full collection of activity ideas for more simple, low-cost fun the whole family can enjoy.
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What other easy messy play ideas do your kids enjoy? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you!
