I admit it. I'm a clean freak. I'm the one up early or staying up hours after the kids go to bed to clean up their mess. However, I also know that it's ok if my kids get messy. The other day my four year old was so excited when I told her she could finger paint that she squealed for a solid 5 minutes. Heck, I remember loving to finger paint too! The smell of the paint and the squishy feeling under my fingers was so much fun! I even let my little guy it on the action with shaving cream! So why do I let my kids get messy? Here are 4 reasons!
1. Igniting Your Senses - Firing up those senses helps you to remember those vivid memories and more intense learning. Don't you remember getting your hands squished in shaving cream? Some people consider themselves more visual learners, while others like myself, are more auditory. These are tendencies, not absolutes but if learning experiences trigger more senses, you are more likely to internalize what you are learning.2. Teaches Cause and Effect - I'm trying to overcome my urges to step in and prevent messes because sometimes its truly ok if your kids make a mess. Before my kids are able to experience an outcome, how are they able to learn from it? If I keep intervening before they are able to learn, they can't understand cause and effect. When Lily ran out of Landon's room with diaperDestin cream all over her face because she thought it was lotion...well I certainly knew to show her what COLOR the bottle of lotion was and why we don't go in her brother's room.
