At birth, most babies have their senses in place and they receive vast amounts of sensory information all the time. This continues throughout life, but as sensory input is received, so it must be processed. In processing, it becomes knowledge of the world and confidence in the environment. Without input, there cannot be learning.

Sensory play – otherwise known as messy play – is important because it allows children to explore their environment through experience. Sensory exploration builds neural pathways and encourages neural integration. A child who has experienced and processed sensory input is a more confident child and also a faster learner.

Messy play gives children the opportunity to explore objects and raw materials such as sand, water, bark, chalk and paint in an unrestricted way. Children learn about the properties of basic materials without being constrained by rules about one property or use. This fosters creativity and the generation of new knowledge that can be applied in more interesting ways.

Messy play doesn't just foster creativity, it improves concentration and the small and large muscle coordination required for more complex tasks later on, such as writing, drawing and cutting. Messy play is highly stimulating for young children and has benefits across the spectrum of development, from cognitive and physical abilities to social interaction and emotional regulation.

“We can see the vast benefits of messy play in schools and nurseries, and particularly in EYFS,” says John Hughes, Director of Playground Imagineering. “But it has to be done in a fun and non threatening way. Many children who have been deprived of sensory input at some level may find confrontational approaches very frightening. For them, we need to focus on the play side.”

An innovative way that Playground Imagineering incorporates fun and non threatening sensory input into children's daily lives is through messy play areas that foster peer and imaginative play. A prime example is the Playground Imagineering mud kitchen, complete with oven, hob, shelves and utensils. Sandboxes and larger sand play areas are also proving popular in EYFS.

“We focus on creating spaces where games happen naturally,” says Hughes. “That way, all children have a better chance of participating and receiving the input they need.” It is also through creative messy play that sensory information is processed and utilised most efficiently to generate new information. Children learn from each other, building skills as they build relationships.

The messy play area is also a place to learn social skills and improve social interaction. When children are engaged in a game, they are not aware that they are learning. “We can say the playground is really the best classroom,” says Hughes. “So it needs to be a place where the curriculum comes alive through creative play.”

Playground Imagineering works with schools and nurseries to develop the best messy play area for the children's specific needs at their stage of development. “We understand the need to take the classroom outdoors. We believe that a collaborative design approach works best,” says Hughes. “We have off the shelf solutions or can design new products to suit your requirements.”

Each project begins with a consultation and assessment, including a site visit if necessary. This is followed by the design stage where any new ideas or special themes can be incorporated. Once the design has been agreed on and finalised, each piece is manufactured in the UK to British and European safety standards for play equipment.

Once the messy play area has been manufactured, it's time for installation. “Our experienced installers have DBS certificates and we'll manage the project from start to finish. On completion you'll receive a Customer Manual including guarantees and advice on inspecting and maintaining the equipment. Going forward, we can provide inspection and maintenance services,” says Hughes.

The Playground Imagineering team are always happy to help. They offer free site visits and are available to chat about any specific solutions required for an imaginative messy play area that fosters creativity, sensory integration and the development of new neural pathways critical to effective lifelong learning.

Playground Imagineering is a design led school playground equipment supplier that prides itself on its capacity to meet the specific needs of all its customers. Playground Imagineering develops, manufactures and installs school fitness and adventure trails, messy play areas, sand play areas, water play areas, climbing structures and a range of play structures and other playground necessities. As playground specialists with over 25 years experience, they understand the restrictions that can impact on developing a playground, from tight budgets to limited space. They are able to produce a design to cover all the bases, from curriculum based learning to a child’s personal, social and emotional development. Playground Imagineering has off the shelf solutions or can design new products to suit specific requirements. Safety is paramount and all playground equipment is manufactured to EN1176 British and European standards for play equipment and all installers have DBS certificates. The Playground Imagineering team is always happy to help, conduct a site visit and discuss any specific needs. For more information and to view products, please visit: https://playgroundimagineering.co.uk.