This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Messy Play

MESSY

Messy Play

PLAY

What is
Messy Play?

Messy Play is another word for Sensory Play. As teachers, we have a background in child development. We understand the importance of not only play, but also Sensory Play and its benefits.

Sensory Play allows children to engage with their environment and learn through exploration. It is an essential part of a child’s cognitive development, helping them learn about their world through all of their senses.

Children use their senses at different developmental stages; they are beginning to explore the world around them when they are babies and toddlers, and then they begin to use those same senses in more sophisticated ways as they grow older.

That's why we're so excited to share a few reasons why we love sensory play:

01


Sensory play helps to form neural connections in the brain. The network of connections built in your little ones brain is stimulated through exploratory play.

02


Creative thinking is sparked through sensory materials! These materials spark imaginative processes that are essential for learning.

03


The senses ( taste, touch, hear, smell, sight ) that are stimulated during a learning task help with retaining and comprehending the activity.

04


Engaging the senses calms and soothes irritable children—especially at those tricky times of the day... bedtime!

05


Language development, problem solving skills, cognitive function, fine motor and gross motor skills are fostered through sensory play.

06


Scientific thinking is prompted while your child gets messy!

At Mikro' Australia, we believe that Messy Play is an important part of a child’s development—and it can be fun! We have created products that allow you to create your own Messy Play experiences for your children so that they can enjoy sensory play and all of its benefits!

Messy Play Recipes

Gloop

  • 1 cup corn starch
  • 1/3 cup water.
  • 1-2 drops food colouring (DO NOT use Edicol dye or similar)
  • Large tub for playing

Combine food colouring with water then add corn starch and combine. It is difficult to combine, this is normal. Once the corn starch is no longer powdery or clumped at the bottom it is time to play. We recommend placing gloop in a large tub and then having your children kneel around the tub on the play mat.

What happens if you punch the Gloop? Go ahead try it!

Rainbow Foam

  • 2 tbsp. of dishwashing liquid
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1-2 drops Food colouring (DO NOT use Edicol dye or similar)

Use an Electric mixer on high for 2-3 minutes to beat the three ingredients unitl it forms stiff peaks. Scoop it out onto your Mikró play mat and repeat with alternative colours. Let your kids get messy!

Sensory Sand

  • 5 cups of clean play sand (can be found at Bunnings)
  • 3 cups of plain flour
  • 1 cup vegetable oils

Combine the sand and flour in a bowl. While stirring gradually pour in the oil until the sand mix turns into a crumbly consistency. The mix should be damp but not wet.

Let your Kids Go Crazy!

Finger Paint

  • Greek yoghurt
  • 1-2 drops Food colouring (DO NOT use Edicol dye or similar)
  • Small bowls or ice cube trays

Combine 2 tbs of Greek Yoghurt with 1 drop of food colouring. Place in a small bowl or ice cube tray. Repeat with a variety of colours. This Finger paint is safe to use directly on the mat!

We dare you not to join in!

Play Dough

There are many Play dough recipes... but every good teacher and education assistant knows, the best playdough is the cooked! Yes, it’s a little bit more work but when we are talking long gevity and textural you need to cook it to get that ‘Oh Yeh’ feeling! But of course any play dough is fine. Below is our recommended recipe, enjoy.

  • 2 tbsp. cooking oil
  • 4 tbsp. cream of tartar
  • 2 Cups plain flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • Food colouring (DO NOT use Edicol dye or similar)
  • 2 cups water

Add food colouring to water and stir. Then add remaining ingredients together with the coloured water into the saucepan. Stir over LOW heat until the mixture starts to congeal. Usually 3-4 minutes. Do not over cook. Remove from pan and knead on a cool surface. It is normal for the mixture to be slightly sticky, it will congeal further as it cools.

Let the play dough completely cool before placing it on the play mat.

Let the kids make a mess… that’s what its all about. No need to dread play dough anymore!

Coloured Spag

  • Par cooked spaghetti (slightly firm but not hard)
  • Food colouring (DO NOT use Edicol dye or similar)
  • Gloves or snap lock bags

After partially cooking your spaghetti, rinse under cool water to remove starch. Do not miss this step, otherwise your spaghetti will be too sticky. Divide spaghetti up into separate bowls, amount dependent on your desired colours. Use your gloves, so your hands do not get stained, and work a few drops of food colouring through all pieces of spaghetti. Alternatively place spaghetti in snap lock bags. We have found we get better coverage using gloves and bowls. If your spaghetti is overcooked it will begin to go ‘smooshy’ during this step and is not ideal. Allow the spaghetti to air dry, tipping it onto a tray, until the colouring has been completely absorbed. This step is important as it will prevent the food colouring from transferring onto your play mat and children's hands.

Watch your children's imagination run wild!

Cart

No more products available for purchase

Your cart is currently empty.