Messy play help 1 yr old

[Nahmfor]

Hi,

So I'm a ftm with little experience with children, I have a 1 yr old DS. During the first lockdown we kept busy doing all kinds of fun things, he was still really small then.

Fast forward to this lockdown and I have a very active one year old. I'm doing uni from home so in between lectures I'd like to find new things to occupy him because currently he's loving watching tv (nursery rhymes, chipmunks etc)

We love opposite a park and canal so he goes out every day.

But I'd like to start messy play, but no idea where to start.

I was going to try finger painting but I worry he won't enjoy it. I read online about letting him play with boiled soft spaghetti? I think he'd just eat it 😂

Any help would be great x

That's why playing with pasta is good, because it's non toxic.
Cornflour mixed with water (oobleck!) is brilliant.
He is v little though so is v likely to lose interest v quickly, so don't make masses of anything.
Paint or hair gel in a ziplock bag, taped over the top to ensure nothing comes out, is good for squashing and drawing patterns on.
Stacks of stuff on the internet, but don't try and do everything, he is likely to get bored v quickly no matter how exciting it is.

@Takethewinefromtheswine Thank you! I'm so worried about him watching tv a lot, he dances along and engages so he's not just staring blankly but it's not a great habit.

I do take him out etc, just so hard to keep him occupied

Oh and you need a container like a (new!) cat litter tray, to keep the contents semi contained ideally, a roasting tray would also work.

Set items in jelly, food colouring to yoghurt for edible painting, hide toys in shaving foam, cornflour and water, playdough (easy to make), pasta in sauces, dry rice/lentils for pouring (you can colour is wanted), potato printing, bubble snakes using a sock, half a bottle and washing up liquid...

There's so much fun messy play, have a Google and see what you can find.

Any large cardboard boxes on hand? We make cubby houses and paint them. plus they can go down to protect the floor.

The pasta is fine to be eaten so don't worry if a few are sampled.

Kinnect sand is nice. Raid the Tupperware for 'moulds' and stick it in a baking tray for not too messy play.

Play-Doh...you can make it at home .

OP you don't need to occupy him 24/7. Its important kids learn how to entertain themselves and play with their toys.

Some good ideas on here already, my DD has always liked cardboard boxes and drawing. We don't do much 'messy play' at home cause she gets to do that at nursery

I used to sit my DS in the bath to do messy play activities, then I could just 'hose him down' afterwards...

Home made playdoh, which can keep for ages in the fridge is great. Although my DD likes to eat it even though it tastes grim. Cooked spaghetti in bubbly water. Painting or drawing in boxes. Playing with dried lentils, pasta etc. Ice cubes. We sometimes take it outside if the weather isn't too bad. Playing with cake ingredients, flour etc.

My son is 8 now but still the best thing I ever bought him was a concrete mixing tray so he could do messy play and just sit in the middle of it to contain it all. www.diy.com/departments/a/35589_BQ.prd
His favourite was playing with water and a bit of fairy liquid that I put in a small squeezy bottle for him so he didn’t empty the whole bottle. We gave him jugs bowls spoons whisks turkey basters large syringes etc whatever you have got and put towels around the edge and he would sit there in it in the kitchen for hours pouring from one to the other. He also like washing his cars in it.

Trapped Toddler Parents of Winter 2020/21 Support Thread - Puddlesuits at the ready! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4059672-Trapped-Toddler-Parents-of-Winter-2020-21-Support-Thread-Puddlesuits-at-the-ready

Here's a good thread you might like.