05/29/2026
Three benefits of Messy Play (no matter what age!)
Messy play has huge benefits, not just for children but for teens and adults too!
Most of us know the importance of allowing our children to get messy to learn and play but the benefits of messy play extend long past childhood.
1. Process over product
For most of us, our lives are overwhelmed with tasks to complete, homework to do, deadlines to beat, and projects to create. Even at the youngest ages, the product a lot of times ends up being the most important thing (think pre-school, teacher led holiday crafts). Engaging in messy play allows us to give our brains a break and focus on how the process feels over what the product looks like.
2. Builds self-regulation and a growth mindset
When left to our own devices to create something and have no instructions to fall back on, sometimes our "art" doesn't turn out how we imagined. Messy play allows us to try again, try something different, problem-solve and experiment. It's excellent practice for us to move past frustration, remember that perfection is unattainable and focus on enjoyment and steady improvement.
3. Nurtures creativity
Engaging with open-ended sensory materials provide stimulation for all of our senses and allows us to think outside of the box. You may work with a material that doesn't end up being anything in the end but inspires your next project or artwork. You may discover another way to approach a problem while pushing paint around or building a Lego model.
"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct." Carl Jung
So come play with us at Our Creative Clubhouse; take chances, make mistakes and get messy!
