Messy Play

[Daisy]

Does your heart sink when a pre-school or other youngish GC says "Grandma, can I do some painting?" (Or other messy activity)

My DIL2 has come up with what I think is a brilliant idea.

When they got the puppy they bought a couple of packs of puppy training mats. They're water-proof one side and slightly padded the other and have little lo-tack adhesive tabs to stop them sliding round the floor. Within a few days the puppy was reliably house-trained and the training pads weren't needed.

https://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=5956&pf_id=69499

DIL had the brillliant idea of using them on the dining room table when the GDs are painting! They work really well, the sticky tabs don't damage the table, and when GD2 knocked her jar of water over the pad absorbed all of it, and of course the odd paint spills are also absorbed. Afterwards the pad can just be thrown away.

[Oma]

Clever idea Daisy , we used a big plastic table cloth,
In the winter when the boys wanted to play with sand and water we would spread a big Blue tarpauling on the kitchen floor and put the sand/water play table on that ,
After if was finished with we would just scoop each corner up and empty any spillage out of the back door
We used it for feet painting too , laid it down and put the paper and paint on it with a old towel to wipe feet on so no slipping
Our boys loved messy play

[Plantaholic]

My heart used to sink too Daisy, Oma didn't get into wet play indoors. Those mats you speak of Daisy have another use, the parents of my GGS use them when changing baby E's nappy.

[Nanto2girls]

Good idea Daisy about using the mats for painting.

[Nana]

I don't mind messy play but hate glitter. The bruddy stuff gets everywhere. Table & floor's still twinkling in dining room from GS's playtime at Christmas. I've tried sweeping, washing, hoovering. Not a fan of glitter cards either. I love Tinkerbell tho' "I do believe in Fairies, I do, I do".😉

[Oma]

Nana my BIL has been clearing glitter with blue tack from his dining room table since Christmas when his GD stayed over ,
He said its stuck in the grain of the wood and every time he thinks he's got it all he sees it twinkling somewhere else

[Qwerty]

Oh Daisy I know that feeling well the sinking one, with two children one either side of the easel there is 2 lots of water 2 lots of paint etc, we bought a splash mat from poundworld it’s ok for paint spilling but I guess water would go everywhere, but so far no accidents, they paint in the conservatory which has a tiled floor so not too bad to mop, but a good idea from your Dil you can buy those for childeren who bed wet but they are not cheap

[Daisy]

Qwerty - yes, there are times when twins are double the delight, and others where they could be double the trouble! I think the puppy pads are cheaper than the bed protectors, and they certainly cope with a jar of paint water very effectively!

[Gemini]

Daisy I am the opposite, I miss it so much! GD, now 8. loved it and we did a lot together. GS1, 5, is not at all keen, and it is so frustrating to get it all out and him put one blob of glue on paper and say 'can we do something else now?' I don't bother any more. GS2, not yet 2 years old isn't really at that stage yet (although his sister was at this age) I don't hold out much hope for him either.

Like Oma, I have a big plastic tablecloth. The puppy training pads are a wonderful idea Daisy! Your SIL should adapt them slightly to market them as children's messy play mats. She may make her fortune

Nana, my OH hates glitter and would totally ban it from the house if she could! I love it and don't care if it gets everywhere, but sadly have had no reason to use if for the past couple of years.

[Daisy]

Gem - there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't do messy play on your own if you feel like it!!!! Just be careful with that new carpet.

I had never done much - I was 'trained' by little boys until GD1 was born, and she enjoyed it but was never, ever messy! GD2 is more like your GS1 - "Right, I've blobbed paint on that piece of paper, now let's go and do something else"

[Gemini]

Daisy, I sometimes feel like doing the messy play on my own!
I suppose over 20 years of working in playgroups, creches and primary school meant messy play was my life. Embrace it or find your job very difficult

[Nana]

Following on about glitter. My GS2's nursery don't use it anymore. Not surprised as DD had a really difficult hour trying to get it all off her 2 1/2yr old son's scalp. It was even on his eyelashes.