With snow falling across the region, many families are finding themselves at home with little ones full of energy and curiosity. While snowy days can be magical, keeping children entertained indoors can feel like a challenge. That’s where messy play comes in - and who better to guide us than local messy play expert, Melissa from Splat Messy Play Aberdeen & Shire.
Melissa has worked in early years education for almost 15 years and, after having her little boy, wanted to continue supporting children’s development in one of the best ways possible - through play. During her sessions, little ones are encouraged to explore, create and learn through hands-on, sensory fun in a relaxed, child-led environment.
Messy play is designed to boost imagination, confidence and curiosity, giving children the freedom to play, experiment and get gloriously messy while grown-ups enjoy watching them thrive.
Since we’re all stuck at home unable to attend her classes, Melissa has shared four simple messy play activities you can try at home using everyday items - ideal for snowy days or just when you need a little inspiration!
Snow painting is a simple, low-prep messy play activity that’s perfect for babies and young children.
What you need: • Clean snow • Food colouring or paint • Squeezy bottles, pipettes or spoons • A tray, basin or outdoor space
How to play: Place the snow in a tray or on the ground and let your child drip, pour or splash colour onto it. Encourage them to explore mixing colours, making patterns and feeling the cold, crunchy texture.
Why it’s great: Snow painting supports sensory exploration, fine motor skills, creativity and early science learning, while allowing children to explore freely with no pressure to get it right.
A rice sensory tray is a simple, calming messy play activity that works brilliantly for babies and young children.
What you need: • Dry rice • A shallow tray or box • Cups, spoons, scoops or funnels • Small toys or containers
How to play: Pour the rice into the tray and let your child scoop, pour, tip and explore. Hide small toys for them to discover or encourage filling and emptying containers.
Why it’s great: Rice play supports sensory exploration, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and concentration. It also encourages independent, child-led play in a relaxed way.
Top tip: For younger babies, use larger containers and supervise closely to keep play safe and stress-free.
This soft, squishy and stretchy dough is perfect for indoor messy play - and even more fun when you add Potato Head pieces!
What you need: • 1 cup cornflour • ½ cup baby lotion or hair conditioner • Optional: food colouring or glitter • Potato Head pieces or other small toys for creative play
How to play:
Mix the cornflour and baby lotion or conditioner until it forms a smooth, pliable dough.
Let your child squish, squeeze, roll and shape it. The stretchy texture is fascinating to explore.
Use Potato Head pieces to press into the dough, create faces or invent characters, encouraging imaginative play.
Why it’s great: • Strengthens fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination • Encourages creativity, imagination and sensory exploration • Calming and engaging for children • Easy to make, easy to clean and reusable
Top tip: Adjust the texture with more cornflour or lotion/conditioner as needed, and store in an airtight container for repeated play.
Bring a little winter magic to sensory play by using snow like sand. Children can dig, mould and build - just like at the beach.
What you need: • Clean snow • A tray or outdoor space • Small shovels, scoops or cups • Optional: moulds, toy animals or natural items such as pinecones
How to play:
Spread the snow in a tray or on the ground.
Let your child dig, scoop and pour the snow as if it were sand.
Use moulds or cups to build snow “castles” and create small landscapes.
Add small toys or natural objects to extend imaginative play.
Why it’s great: • Encourages creativity and imaginative play • Supports fine motor skills through digging, scooping and packing • Engages the senses with cold, wet and tactile textures • Introduces early concepts of shape, size and cause and effect
Top tip: Dress warmly and embrace a little mess - melting snow is all part of the fun!
