Let Your Children Get Messy.

Messy nature play, exploring food with hands, and being messy in general are all fundamental to your children's development, offering a range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social benefits.
I have been ridiculed by those close to me, and by strangers online, about how disgusted they were when I allowed my babies to eat and explore with their hands; simply enjoying their precious little worlds, and building brain connections which I wasn’t granted the time of day to explain the science behind.

As a Virgo sun, perfectionism and cleanliness runs deep in my veins; but when you understand that everything is washable, see the joy on your babies faces, and how easy it is to place your baby into a bathtub, you let go of these ideals very quickly.

Nature Exposure

Nature play deeply stimulates children’s sensory systems, helping them process and integrate sensory information more effectively. Engaging with different textures, temperatures, and sounds aids in developing sensory awareness and coordination. It encourages creativity, problem-solving, and imagination.
Children can experiment with cause and effect (e.g., what happens when water is poured over sand?), which develops critical thinking skills.
Engaging in natural messy play fosters resilience and reduces stress. Exposure to nature is linked to improved emotional regulation, and the freedom to explore in an unstructured way boosts confidence and autonomy.
A study by Kuo et al. (2019) found that children who spend more time in natural environments exhibit greater attention spans, reduced impulsivity, and enhanced emotional regulation. They additionally found that outdoor, messy nature play significantly improved motor skills, spatial awareness, and social interaction among preschool-aged children.

Self Feeding

Encouraging children to explore food with their hands, especially as they transition to solid food, supports both sensory and developmental growth.
Touching food helps children develop tactile awareness and fine motor skills. They learn to distinguish textures, temperatures, and even the sensory properties of food (e.g., how food feels before and after cooking). Eating with hands encourages autonomy, as children learn to feed themselves. This fosters a sense of control and self-confidence while helping them understand their own hunger cues.
A study published in Developmental Science (2017) found that babies who engage in “baby-led weaning” (self-feeding with their hands) develop better fine motor skills and have more positive attitudes towards food and eating. Beheshti et al. (2019) found that self-feeding with hands enhances children's sensory integration and helps them develop healthier eating habits and reduces fussiness, as they engage with food more mindfully.

Unstructured Play

Messy play often involves exploration of materials in open-ended ways, stimulating creativity. Children learn to innovate and experiment without fear of making mistakes. When messy play involves others, such as cooperative art projects or group outdoor play, children practice sharing, negotiating, and taking turns. These interactions enhance social bonds and communication skills.
Messy play provides a safe space for children to express themselves, process emotions, and experience the joy of discovery. It's an emotionally liberating process, which can reduce anxiety and improve mood
A study by Ginsburg (2007) emphasized the importance of free, unstructured play, including messy play, for healthy childhood development. It highlighted that children who engage in messy play have better emotional resilience and problem-solving skills, in addition to reducing stress, and enhancing their overall mental well-being.

Let your babies enjoy their childhoods and be messy!