Go ahead and get a little messy!

I used to run a preschool out of my home several years back. And while my husband was always quite supportive and patient with my job, the one area he absolutely could not tolerate was our messy backyard. Isn’t that interesting? He didn’t mind having a full on dress up bin and toy kitchen in the front of our house. Children’s artwork wallpapering our rooms didn’t faze him. Our dishwasher being full of sippy cups and plastic spoons was of no concern to him. A messy backyard full of children’s toys however was where he drew the line. He loathed the backyard looking like a preschool playground. I was torn between trying to keep the peace in my marriage. (after all, he was being so amazing about letting my intrusive business operate right out of our home) and my knowledge of the importance of outdoor messy play!

As an early childhood educator I know that messy play is crucial for children's development, fostering sensory exploration, creativity, fine motor skills, language, and social-emotional growth, all while encouraging self-confidence and a deeper connection to the world. 

Fast forward a couple of years and I now own my own preschool at a different location away from home. You better believe that the very first thing I did was to incorporate a mud kitchen, a sandbox, a sand table, and areas of the backyard specifically for digging.

A few of the specific benefits of outdoor messy play:

• It encourages creativity and imagination by providing open-ended opportunities for exploration and experimentation. 

• It allows children to discover new ideas and ways of thinking, fostering problem-solving skills. 

• Activities like scooping, pouring, and manipulating materials strengthen fine motor skills, crucial for tasks like writing and drawing. 

• Outside messy play provides opportunities for children to express themselves through language, describing textures, sensations, and their experiences. 

• Children can also learn new vocabulary related to the materials and activities they are engaging in. 

• As with all play, it can encourage cooperation and sharing as children work together on projects. 

• It allows children to learn about different perspectives and problem-solve collaboratively. 

• The freedom to explore and make choices in messy play can boost self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment. 

In my enrollment paperwork I clearly state that the children will get messy. I hope no one is wearing their Louis Vuitton or Gucci to school.

Keep playing and keep learning and go ahead and get a little messy. It’s good for all of us! #earlychildhoodeducation #earlychildhoodeducator #prek #playtolearn #earlychildhooded #prekteacher