Messy Play Ideas

[NewMummyx]

Hello.

My little one is 16 months. Still puts everything in her mouth.

What messy play can we do that's safe ?

Thanks x

Jelly or spaghetti on her high chair tray are both good as they are edible. There's a recipe for Play Dough here and a tub of warm soapy water with some toys in usually goes down well

Hi there, I have some ideas for you. In the nursery, children loved these activities:

1.) Coloured spaghetti

Cook your spaghetti as normal, drain it, pour cold water on it and add some vegetable oil, mix it (so the spaghetti will stay non-sticky). When it is not hot anymore, add your chosen food colouring. You can then add spoons, cups, bowls, cars, plastic animals to the play.

2.) Moonsand

This is one of my favourites! You can create your own moonsand by mixing 8 cups of flour and 1 cup of vegetable oil. You can also add food colouring to make it more fun. The moonsand should be similar to breadcrumbs and you can easily shape it. Add in buckets, containers, spoons, sand toys and moulds.

3.) Jelly play

This play is great for children because they will be experiencing different flavours and smells. Make at least 2 different flavours ;) Add in some plastic figurines, cars, animals, spoons, bowls…

4.) Rice/dry pasta/oats play

Sometimes the simple ideas are the best. Children love taking experiment with rice, pasta and oats, they especially like transferring them. For example, add containers, tubes, sand toys, spoons, bowls to the play. You can also use rice/pasta/oat in your kitchen play for example, your child can “cook” with these ingredients.

At the moment, I don’t remember of more edible or taste-safe messy play, but I am sure that others will give you more tips ;) I got so inspired now, that I will definitely make a blog post about edible messy plays. Thank you for the idea :) and wishing you a fun day with your little one.

Squirty cream and food colouring
Cook up a big saucepan of porridge and let it go cold. Add some food colouring and it turns into a fantastic squelchy messy play activity, especially with little toys hidden! I do the same with custard and with mashed potato using a packet of instant smash! Polenta works well too, as does cooked couscous or cooked spaghetti.
I always add food colouring when I’m using food for messy play so that it’s unrecognisable from the food that they eat. I don’t want my dc to start playing with their food at the dinner table.

These are all amazing thanks girls.

Rainy day here will now be fun x