where's the line between constructive independent play and making a mess?

[hatwoman]

something that I often ponder, given dds' various little games. they've spent the last 3 days cutting, sticking, glittering and colouring. they have cut coloured paper into - probably, by now - 100s of pieces, made little symmetrical patterns with glitter glue by dolloping it on and folding the paper in half and then opening it out. they have made piles of red, yellow and blue "biscuits"; they have made several cards for their (pretend) teacher, apparently it's called Choo Choo nursery and they're in Thomas Class. On the one hand this exercise has entertained them solidly - and they've been given no help, apart from the materials, but when I came downstairs to find dd1 had cut out about 20 "crowns" it started to look like a bit of a waste of paper...

I think it sounds great, they are amusing themselves and being creative. So long as they aren't sticking it on the walls or gluing sequins to the dining table it sounds cool! Could always encourage them to re-use paper that you already have - old wallpaper? Or cut up magazines? I find that I buy packs of that "crafty" coloured paper from Tescos and they will waste it - bring home old invoices or some other scrap paper from work and it lasts for ages!

I think that sounds fab, it does seem to be a waste but they are getting so much out of this there is no waste.
I can second the wallpaper though, I got some old rolls from MIL and have a search around in diy shops for end of lines have got some great stuff for 50p in the past not only can they make huge long pictures but it goes much further too for cutting up.

Mess made just for the sake of mess I would be annoyed with, but mess as a by-product of constructive play and learning, well, there's no harm in that right?

This is one of my DS's favourite passtimes and will keep him amused for ages - I now collect magazines (elc catalogues are good for this) and keep them in a box with scissors, DS either rips or cuts them up.

Another good tip - I have introduced my DS to another very fun game to do after cutting/ripping paper, playing with the dyson! He loves seeing all the bits of paper get sucked up and it saves me doing it! (but he's 4 so old enough to use it sensibly...)