Have some friends coming over? Host a messy play date – it’s a blast!
Are you about to have some toddler friends over? Need some ideas to keep every one happily playing and occupied? Host a messy play date and you will go down in the books as The Coolest Mom. I have 8 awesome, messy play date activities to share with you today.
I love messy play. I even have a whole blog category dedicated to just messy sensory play. It’s fun, it’s memorable, it gets kids moving and active. That’s why when I invite friends over for a play date, there’s usually a messy activity involved. By now, my friends just know to bring a change of toddler clothes. I’m that friend.
Messy play is such a perfect activity for a play date. You’ve got another adult as back up and you can be a little braver than you otherwise might. Find a friend and get messy together (well, not you & your friend, but the toddler friends).
Materials (just a couple of items to make messy play successful)
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- Under the bed storage tub OR kiddie pool – you need something to do the activity in
- Shower curtain liner – the best messy activity investment I ever made. It’s a toddler tarp! Keeps messes in one spot AND it can go in the laundry. Now that’s a win.
- Popsicle Bath – every messy activity ends with a bath. Make that bath last a little longer (so one of the parents can clean up the mess) by turning it into a Popsicle bath.
But what fun activity should you do when you host a messy play date?
I’ve got you covered, boo! We love messy play at our house and I’ve put together a dandy little round up of our favorites. In no particular order, here are some awesome activity ideas for a messy play date. [ps: make sure to click into each activity to read my tips for easy set up and clean up.]
RAINBOW OOLBECK: Corn Starch + Water = one awesome science filled sensory mess.
JELLO POOL: Who wouldn’t want to play in a pool of Jello with their friends?
PUDDING PAINTING: Create delicious art and a fun memory.
TOY PAINT: Make a giant mural using toys as the “brushes”.
SHAVING CREAM WINDOW: Nothing like little toddler hands playing in shaving cream.
SNOW TUB: Have a “snowy” good time in this flour filled activity.
BUBBLE FOAM: It’s just baby body wash and water to make this amazing (and squeaky clean) sensory bin.
MUD: A kiddie pool of mud for toddlers. It’s the dirtiest sensory bin ever, but also one of the most fun.
And that’s my list! Messy play dates are so much fun. You have a mom friend to help keep things under control and a fun memory to look back on. Plus messy play is definitely better than refereeing another toddler fight over a barely played with toy, am I right?
Chelsea @ Life With My Littles says
Love this! What fun ideas!!!