This is a super fun taste-safe messy play activity for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, anyone really! I set this up for Rosalie to fit with our On the Farm theme this month.

Messy play set-up

Tray (we love the Ikea smula tray, it’s cheap and great for all sorts of play set-ups)

Chocolate angel delight

Oats

Pigs (our farm set came from Sainsburys and was really good value)

Troughs (these came with our farm set, but you could use any small dish)

Sty made from kitchen roll inner (cut the tube in half and split each half down the middle)

White paper for making trotter prints

Ways to play

There really is no right ‘way to play’ when it comes to messy play. But these are some of the things Rosalie did with the pigs, unprompted:

• moved them around the mud, into the sty and over to the oats
• rolled them in the mud
• she decided that only one of the pigs actually liked mud
• made trotter prints on the white paper
• sprinkled oats to entice the pig from the sty
• mixed the oats and ‘mud’ in the trough to make pig food
• squelched, squirched, clapped and slid her hands around

Playful learning

Sensory exploration – being able to freely explore the texture of the mud and oats is a great sensory experience. We talked about what the ‘mud’ felt like and she really enjoyed making it squidge and squelch between her fingers. She also enjoyed a small taste!

Imaginative play – a messy play set-up such as this is an invitation for imaginative play because there is no expectation of how it should be played with. The freedom allows your toddler to use their imagination to figure out what to do, and come up with new ways to play.

If you like this idea, pin it so you don’t forget to do it with your baby or toddler!

 

Rosalie – 40 months (full disclosure: she did need a bath afterwards!)

Take a look at my On the farm Pinterest board for more farm themed play ideas: