šØ 5 Messy Play Setups You Can Prep in Under 10 Minutes
1. šĀ Coloured RiceĀ
Ā Ā Skills: Fine motor, sensory processing, colour recognition
Ā Ā What Youāll Need:
Ā Ā - Uncooked rice
Ā Ā - Food colouring
Ā Ā - Ziplock bags
Ā Ā - Vinegar or hand sanitiser (optional, helps colour stick)
How to Make:
Pop 1 cup of rice into a ziplock bag. Add a few drops of food colouring and a splash of vinegar or hand sanitiser. Seal and shake until fully coated. Pour onto a tray to dry (dries fast!).
Play Ideas: Scoop with spoons, hide objects for a treasure hunt, or practice pouring and transferring.
2. šæ Chia Seed Slime (aka Taste-Safe Slime)
Ā Ā Skills: Tactile sensory play, cause and effect, hand strength
Ā Ā What Youāll Need:
Ā Ā - Ā¼ cup chia seeds
Ā Ā - 1Ā½ cups water
Ā Ā - Food colouring
Ā Ā - Large bowl
How to Make:
Mix chia seeds, water, and food colouring in a bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes (or prep the night before for a thicker slime).
Play Ideas: Scoop, squish, or add toys like dinosaurs or animals for pretend play.
3. š Oobleck
Ā Ā Skills: Scientific thinking, sensory exploration, fine motor
Ā Ā What Youāll Need:
Ā Ā - 1 cup cornflour (cornstarch)
Ā Ā - Ā½ cup water
Ā Ā - Food colouring (optional)
How to Make:
Mix cornflour and water in a bowl until it forms a gooey, non-Newtonian fluid. Add more cornflour if itās too runny.
Play Ideas: Watch it drip through fingers, press it hard (it solidifies!), then let it melt ā itās a science lesson and sensory activity in one!
4. š« Cocoa "Mud" Play (Taste-Safe & Smells Amazing!)
Ā Ā
Ā Ā Skills: Sensory exploration, pretend play, creativity
Ā Ā What Youāll Need:
Ā Ā - 2 cups flour
Ā Ā - Ā½ cup cocoa powder
Ā Ā - Water (add slowly)
-
Optional: scoops, toy animals, spoons, flowers, or leaves
How to Make:
Mix the flour and cocoa powder in a large bowl or tray. Slowly add water a little at a time until you get a thick, muddy texture. It should be squishy but not too wet.
Play Ideas:
Make pretend mud pies, build a construction site, or create animal tracks in the āmud.ā Itās perfect for imaginative play ā and it smells like chocolate cake!
Pro tip: Add flowers or nature treasures to turn it into a pretend mud kitchen!
5. āļø Cloud Dough
Ā Ā Skills: Hand strength, creativity, sensory regulation
Ā Ā What Youāll Need:
Ā Ā - 2 cups flour
Ā Ā - Ā¼āĀ½ cup oil (baby oil or vegetable oil)
How to Make:
Mix flour and oil in a large bowl until it holds when pressed but crumbles when broken.
Play Ideas: Press into moulds, scoop into cupcake liners, or hide treasures to dig out.
š§¼ Cleanup Tips:
-
Use trays or mats to contain the mess
-
Keep a damp cloth and dustpan nearby
-
Let kids help clean up ā it builds responsibility too!
Why Messy Play Matters
Messy play isnāt just fun ā it supports fine motor skills, language development, sensory integration, and creative thinking. Plus, it gives your child the freedom to explore the world with all their senses.
Need more quick-play ideas like these?
Join our mailing list or follow us on Instagram for weekly toddler activity inspo ā no Pinterest perfection needed. š
