The Round Tray shares many similarities to the much loved tuff tray. It’s perfect for open-ended play and provides a range of multi-sensory learning opportunities. Smaller than a standard tuff tray but big enough to accommodate a range of fun activities, it features deep sides that also make it easier to contain messy materials.
Use on the floor or table tops, indoors or outdoors – the choice is yours!
You’ll never run out of ideas on how to use this round tray. From messy play, water play to small world play, the Round Tray provides the perfect base for exploration and discovery.
• Suitable for use indoors and outdoors
• Facilitates open-ended play
• Easy to clean and store away after use
Size: Width 59.1cm x D6cm (Outer dimensions)
What is Messy Play ?
Messy play is an approach to early childhood education and sensory exploration that encourages children to engage in open-ended, hands-on activities involving various materials that can be messy or tactile in nature. It is often used in preschools, daycare centers, and at home as a way to stimulate children’s senses, promote creativity, and support their overall development.
In messy play, children are given opportunities to explore and manipulate different materials such as water, sand, paint, clay, mud, shaving foam, and various textures like rice or pasta. They are encouraged to touch, feel, squeeze, squish, pour, and experiment with these materials using their hands or sometimes with simple tools like spoons or brushes. This sensory-rich experience allows children to engage their senses of touch, sight, smell, and sometimes even taste, depending on the materials used.
Messy play is considered beneficial for children’s development in several ways:
- Sensory development: Engaging in messy play helps children explore different textures, temperatures, and consistencies, which stimulates their senses and promotes sensory integration.
- Fine motor skills: Manipulating and exploring materials with their hands and fingers helps children develop their fine motor skills, coordination, and hand-eye coordination.
- Creativity and imagination: Messy play encourages children to use their imagination and creativity as they explore and experiment with the materials. They can create their own narratives, make shapes, patterns, or even mix different materials to discover new textures or colors.
- Cognitive development: Through messy play, children learn about cause and effect, problem-solving, and basic scientific concepts. They can observe how materials change when mixed or combined, and they can make predictions and draw conclusions based on their observations.
- Emotional and social development: Messy play provides opportunities for children to express themselves, develop self-confidence, and regulate their emotions. It can also be a social activity when children engage in messy play with their peers, fostering cooperation, sharing, and communication skills.
When engaging in messy play, it’s important to ensure the materials used are safe and non-toxic. Supervision is also essential to maintain a safe environment and guide children in their exploration.