Messy play is important for young children, giving them endless ways to develop and learn. All types of play are essential for children’s development and early learning. Play helps children to develop and improve their gross and fine motor skills, co-ordination and concentration. Also how to work cooperatively and collaboratively, use all their senses to discover and explore their environment, and develop their imagination, creative thinking and ability to problem solve and experiment with solutions. Children generally enjoy this kind of play; however some children shy away from getting themselves messy. If your child does not seem to enjoy messy activities it may be beneficial to have an evaluation by an occupational therapy to assess whether or not your child may have sensory sensitivities that are significant enough to warrant therapy. An occupational therapist may suggest various messy play ideas to try at home. Here’s a fun one that can help you test if your child (or you) enjoy a mess.
Homemade Rubbery Goop
Ingredients:
2 cups bi-carbonate soda (baking soda)
1 ½ cups water
1 cup of cornflour (corn starch)
Food colouring (optional)
Instructions:
Combined all ingredients into a saucepan.
Mix the ingredients together using a whisk to remove lumps.
Heat on stove stirring with a wooden spoon.
Bring the mixture to the boil continuously stirring.
Small lumps will begin to appear, continue to stir until a thick mixture has formed.
Turn out onto the bench. Be careful the Rubbery Goop will be very hot!
Knead together to form a smooth ball of Rubbery Goop.
Store in a plastic zip-lock bag or air tight container.
There are no preservatives in this recipe and depending on how many children play with the Rubbery Goop, it can last up to two weeks.