Having not done any messy play for a while, and with not being able to get out to toddler group without a car (where Little Miss A always loved taking part in the messy play activities), last week I took the tuff spot outside with the paints.
Although it was sunny it was still quite chilly so I decided to dress her in the all in one waterproof suit that has been handed down from her brother, together with her wellies. How much mess could she get into?!
The answer is a lot!
I thought I was prepared for a bit of mess and as we were outside it couldn't be too bad could it?! How wrong I was!
Little Miss A had fun for a short time mixing up all of the paints in the tuff spot, with the occasional painting on the big sheet of paper I had laid out.
Once she had had enough painting she decided it would be more fun to run off leaving paint footprints on the path and paint handprints over a lot of the outdoor toys and playhouse!
Whoops!
Whilst I was trying to clean up the mess Little Miss A was running around causing havoc - it was rather stressful!
I think I had forgotten how much she has grown since we enjoyed lots of messy play activities last year. She used to sit for ages in the tuff spot playing with whatever I had given her and couldn't get out easily to spread it around. Now it is a completely different story! When we are outside she wants to be up on her feet running around, not sitting down doing boring things like painting!
I think we need one of the stands you can buy for tuff spots so she can't sit in it, she can only get her hands in there - I think she would enjoy this much more and hopefully the mess and destruction may be less!
I have bought some shaving foam for some more messy play this week. Now I just need to pluck up the courage to do it! Wish me luck!
Stay at Home Mum to two children - Little Mr A born in 2008 and Little Miss A born in 2012. Blogging my way through dirty nappies and school runs!
