Sensory Play Saturdays: Why Messy Play Is So Important for Kids

At Playground42 we recently started doing Sensory Table Saturdays. On these days, the messiest, most magical kind of play happens. But it's not just fun for fun's sake: messy play is a deeply meaningful way children can learn about their world.

What is Sensory Play?

Sensory play includes any activity that engages one or more of a child's senses: touch, sight, hearing, smelling, and even movement (vestibular and proprioceptive). Think finger painting, squishing slime, scooping rice, splashing water, or digging in sand as examples.

Sensory Play's Benefits

Research and expert sources say sensory play has many powerful benefits:

1. Brain growth & neural connections

   1. When children explore textures, sounds, and materials, their brains build and strengthen neural pathways. Over time those connections help with more complex learning tasks.

2. Language & communication

   1. Sensory play gives kids something to talk about. Describing how something feels ("slimy," "crunchy," "soft") expands vocabulary and expressive language skills.

3. Fine motor & gross motor development

   1. Squeezing, pinching, pouring, stirring--these actions strengthen the small muscles in the hands and fingers (crucial for later skills like writing or buttoning). At the same time, reaching, shifting, or balancing during play helps with gross motor control.

4. Cognitive skills: problem solving & curiosity

   1. Messy play is essentially experimentation. Kids ask questions ("What happens if I mix orange and blue rice?"), try, fail, adapt, and try again. This process builds logical thinking and creativity.

5. Emotional regulation & sensory processing

   1. Sensory experiences can be calming. The tactile feedback from squishing or molding can help kids settle, reduce anxiety, and learn self-regulation. Kids with sensory sensitivities or different processing needs may especially benefit from controlled sensory play.

6. Social interaction & cooperation

   1. When multiple children play side by side, sharing tools, talking about texture or technique, or collaborating on "projects," they practice key social skills like communication, empathy, and turn-taking.

Why "Sensory Saturdays" at Playground42 are a parent's (and child's) dream

We believe great experiences happen when barriers are removed. Here's how we make our sensory events both fun and stress-free.

1. You don't have to prepare

   1. You don't need to mix rice dyes at home or worry whether the color will stain any surfaces. We bring the materials--safe, washable, high-quality sensory mediums.

2. You don't have to clean

   1. After it's over, we handle all the cleanup.

3. Adaptable for all ages and abilities

   1. Our table has multiple bins with varying levels or sensory intensity or complexity, so toddlers, preschoolers, and even older siblings can engage in ways that feel comfortable and exciting.

4. Communication & connection

   1. Sensory Play Saturdays can also become a social spot--for kids to meet peers and for parents to chat, trade ideas, or simply relax and watch the wonder unfold.

Tips to Make the Most of It

• Talk with your child while they explore. As them "how does that feel?" "Is it wet or dry?" This helps boost language.

• Offer tools (spoons, scoops, cups) instead of hands alone. We offer these at Playground42. This encourages motor control.

• Let them lead the play. Don't over-direct, allow them to discover at their own pace.

Currently our Sensory Saturdays run 10AM-3PM but be sure to check our schedule regularly for updated dates & times. You can book your play at playground42.com/play