Messy Sensory Play Recipes by Sam from Messy Play for Two
Are you interested in trying some messy sensory play with your little one?
Messy and sensory play are used pretty interchangeably, it allows your toddler to discover new smells and colours, as well as enabling them to be comfortable with a range of textures.
Messy sensory play gives children the opportunity to use their creativity while developing dexterity, imagination, and physical, social and emotional skills.
Read below for my top three taste safe* messy sensory recipes:
Oobleck
Oobleck is an interesting messy play for you to try with your little one. It is a Non-Newtonian fluid - it acts as a liquid when in resting, and a solid when pressure is applied.
2 cups of cornflour
1 cup of water (add food colouring of choice to your water)
Mix with spoon or hand
Provide your child with some tools when trying this, some spoons, scoops, cups and bowls, for them to explore, before they become comfortable to explore with their hands! You can then start adding figurines, or other additions to theme your oobleck!
Jelly
Jelly has got to be one of my kids’ favourites when it comes to messy play! And I’ve found the perfect recipe to making firm jelly for your little one to investigate with their hands, a rip apart with their fingers!
3 tablespoons of gelatine powder
Stir into 250ml of boiling water until dissolved
Add 250ml of cold water and stir
Add food colouring of choice
You can then either add this to a baking paper lined tray to cut into shapes, or (my favourite) add into a tray with shapes or images.
Jelly play has so many benefits for your child. It helps to strengthen the muscles in their fingers, which is essential for handwriting, as well as bilateral coordination (using both sides of their body at once)
Chia Slime
Our final recipe can receive mixed reviews, but it was one of the first messy bases my girls really enjoyed!
1/4 cups chia seeds
1 3/4 cups food coloured water
Leave to soak overnight
Add between 1-4 cups of cornflour depending on desired consistency
There are loads of great themes you can add to your chia slime! You can either play on its own, or create a Dino Swamp, Frog Pond, or Muddy African Animal play!
Be warned though, this one can get messy!
So, the next time you’re looking to try some messy sensory play with your little one, why not try one of these recipes? Bonus, they don’t require too many ingredients and aren’t difficult to create!
About the author
My name is Sam, and I’m the very lucky mumma to active twin toddler girls H & C. I started our play account, @messyplayfortwo, as a place to document and share the fun, and often messy activities we enjoy! As my girls have grown, their interests have changed, but will always be completely immersed in anything they can be covered in!
Sam is a valued member of the Clever Bugs community. Make sure you head over and check out her page here.
Worried about the mess? You are not alone! Try containing the mess in a Crafty Pod (below) or taking your messy play outside!
