Storytime Theme: Messy & Clean

Kids love to make a mess and they love it even more when they’re encouraged to be messy! Today’s storytime lesson plan is all about making a mess (and cleaning it up), but also experiencing new, fun textures by encouraging sensory play with a lot of really cool homemade recipes.

Since kids are so great at making a mess, there have to be some absolutely amazing messy books out there. One I didn’t include in this list is I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont, which is a really fun story that you can sing. You could also try making Taste-Safe Mud for sensory play. There’s no wrong way to use this storytime and if you can offer a place for kids to get messy, caregivers will be forever grateful! I’ve found that many parents don’t want to create these experiences at home because they don’t want to deal with the mess.

But, sensory play is really important for kids’ development. It’s called sensory play because children use all of their senses to create, play, problem-solve, experiment, and more. Sensory play helps to develop fine-motor skills as well as encourages language development, especially when played with caregivers who can ask questions to encourage kids to verbalize what they’re feeling, smelling, maybe even tasting! Take a deep breath, lay down some plastic tablecloths and encourage kids (and parents) to get messy!

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost. Please read the full disclosure for more information.