November 18, 2025 Messy Play Helps Children with Creativity and Facing Challenges Children stomping into the house covered in mud or dirt stains may not be ideal for caregivers – but an article by The Genius of Play argues that messy play is beneficial for young people. Learn More In the article “Why Kids Need Messy Play,” the Genius of Play describes how such activities help to promote fine motor, communication, problem-solving, and sensory regulation skills. These experiences are important for a child’s developing brain and help to prepare them for school and life. Messy play engages all of a child’s senses, which then helps them to explore and learn about their environment as well as what their bodies can do in relation to the world around them, the article notes.. While outdoors, children can run, jump, roll, and climb as well as create a world of their own with their own rules. Additionally, it gives them time away from adults, and they cna learn to work and negotiate with their peers. Some of the benefits of messy, outdoor play include: It inspires creativity and imagination. It creates the optimal and perfect setting for balanced sensory experiences. It allows children to appropriately evaluate risks and face challenges head on. The article lists a variety of fun activities in which children can take part outdoors, including water play, sensory bins, shaving cream art, ice painting, finger painting, and more. To learn more about the importance of messy play for children, read The Genius of Play’s article.
October 6, 2025 Genius of Play Encourages Outdoor Play, Suggests Activities Although the summer is over, the weather outside will still be ideal for outdoor activities for the foreseeable future. The Genius of Play has compiled a short list of activities that adults can recommend to children to encourage them to put down their smart phones and other screens for a while. Learn More Spending time outside provides children with important opportunities for growth and learning, the Genius of Play wrote in its recent newsletter. Four activities that the organization included in its newsletter that can be used to encourage outdoor play are: Shadow Art – In this activity, children use varied positions and angles to help them learn that differences can alter the shape of the shadow they create; drawing and creative skills are utilized. Act It Out – This activity involves reading a book aloud and acting it out by assigning a child a role. Obstacle Course – Adults should design a path for children to follow by creating an imaginary balance beam with tape; make stepping stones with other objects and have children follow the path by crawling over them. Basket Toss – Place objects within easy reach of a child and have them throw them into a basket; the idea is to present a challenge, but not a frustration. Each of the activities can also be played indoors, if the weather isn’t cooperative. For more play activities, visit the Genius of Play website.
