About

Imagine, Create, Play

Sensory and Messy play for kids!

Imagine

At MyMessyTot we recognise the importance of imagination and how it helps children develop in so many ways. Imaginative play helps children begin to make sense of the world around them by using familiar things as well as exploring the new. By using their imagination through play, children use all of their senses to explore and gain further understanding.

Vocabulary is such an important tool for young children. Whilst creating stories and allowing their imagination to flourish, they begin to use new vocabulary. This helps them understand how to use vocabulary within context.

Imaginative play should always be encouraged throughout children’s upbringing. It is an open-ended way to play and allows them to take ownership of where their stories and learning takes them. It has so many benefits including social, emotional, creative, linguistic and problem solving skills. There are endless possibilities and using their imagination allows them to think outside of the box.

Create

Creation is at the core of MyMessyTot as we want to encourage discovery and invention. These are life skills that can lead to so many positive opportunities, by giving them a chance to be active and develop both physically and mentally. We want to help children develop their fine motor (small movement) skills and gross motor (large movement) skills whilst creating a fantasy world and role play scenarios.

Children should be able to create whilst drawing upon their prior knowledge whilst learning new ways to do things. This could be using objects in new ways as well as their intended use to create amazing designs. The main benefits of creation are improved cognitive development, mathematical skills and concepts, language skills and physical skills. To watch a child be given a box of tools and to see what fantasy world they create can help them develop in so many ways as well as having lots of fun!

Play

Our favourite part of what we do at MyMessyTot is play! Children learn an abundance of skills through play as well as showing real pleasure in what they are doing. Play stimulates brain activity and improves communication, vocabulary and language. It also gives the child an opportunity to be completely spontaneous and pull upon their own interests.

Every time that a child plays they are learning, they are using their senses to explore the world around them as well as building upon their previous knowledge and understanding. It can help them to learn about the world as well as themselves as individuals. Play for children (and adults) of all ages helps to alleviate stress and create a sense of calming, including when placed in overwhelming situations. Play should always be encouraged and allowed at any opportunity.