ARTventures and 5 benefits of creative messy play
It was so lovely to head back to ARTventurers, and this time with my camera, so that I could capture some of that beautiful chaos; honestly those painty toes were art pieces in themselves!!!
Our first experience of ARTventurers was an a brilliant at home package put together by the lovely Nicki. It was fabulous. Like many having lockdown sprung on us while we were heavily pregnant meant the maternity and the pregnancy we were expecting was suddenly no more but little things like these classed brought light to our days. In fact when the pack of materials arrived it was like Christmas! Dropped off on the door step and brimming with exiting crafty materials, paint, glitter, sugar paper, coloured rice and spaghetti to name just a few of the delights.
Nicki ran weekly Facebook lives sessions to tell us all about the crafty activities and then we were left to our own devices.
As good as the at home packages were we were trilled when were eventually let lose in a hall full of the same creative goodness. The bonus being there was no risk to my living room from a wandering little person covered head to toe in paint and the result was I could really start enjoying the sessions as much as the little man was.
So why did I want to photograph these sessions?
Well firstly because I experienced first-hand that while my own mini Picaso’s in the making was having the best time and getting paint everywhere imaginable, and I mean EVERYWHERE, including me, it’s nigh on impossible to capture all that fun when you are involved in it. The most I could grab was a quick phone shot before I had to run and grab the little man who was about to paint a fellow mini artist. And looking round the room my experience wasn’t a unique one. Keeping an active toddler, covered in paint, from painting things he shouldn’t be painting is really something that you need to fully concentrate on.
In addition I wanted to give back to my community, even in just a small way. I know what these classes meant to me when we were mid pandemic and even though things have eased. Bringing up a small person is still full of daily hurdles and sometimes its easy to forget the magical moments that are sprinkled through the day but being able to capture some of the moments of magic and fun, for people to hold on to and treasure felt like a valuable thing for me to do.
These arty sessions aren’t just about the fun though (although there is lots of that to be had). There are lots of social and developmental benefits to! Here are 5 ways messy paly can benefit your child.
5 BENEFITS OF CREATIVE MESSY PLAY
Improves social skills
Listening to instructions and seeing others interact around them is a fantastic way for little ones to start developing their social skills. While it may appear that nothing is being taken in, or they are wilfully ignoring what they are hearing don’t be disheartened. Subtle social skills are being absorbed by your little ones as the tasks are being explained and songs being sung.
Develops fine and gross motor skills
When children squeeze paint through their hands, scoop up sand or make marks in flour, they are learning to refine their fine motor skills by using the muscles in their fingers, wrists, arms, toes and shoulders to make small movements. Children also practice coordinating their fine motor skills by combining muscles together when picking up different objects throughout messy play.
While large scale mark making with bigger objects such as fly swatters, they are also enhancing their gross motor skills. Children use the larger muscles in their arms, legs, feet and body to make bigger movements which support balance, coordination and strength.
Confidence
Experiencing new environments, developing skills and facing new challenges all help to build confidence. Messy pay tends to be less structured and children are encouraged to explore their environment more, giving them the power to control what they want to do and how they want to do it.
Creativity and imagination
The freedom of paint and the unpredictability of mark making allows children to think more freely, have a sense of achievement. It also allows them to discover a feeling of control this is often coupled with the parents feeling of lack of control which takes some getting used to but its well worth it in the long run. Especially when you see all the painty fun being had.
Body control, balance and movement
Messy play is an extremely hands-on sensory activity, which enhances children’s body control and balance through the large and small movements that they make when they play. They are encouraged to move and explore. Simple actions, such as holding a paint brush or pouring water from one container to another, helps children focus and improves their control and balance with practice.
Below are some of MY FAVOURITE IMAGES from the ARTventurers sessions that I attended.
What else am I up too….
I blooming love a family shoot. Capturing the personalities of your and your little ones, your interactions, the special little things that you do together it’s all so magic and deserving of being photographed to look back on in years to come!!!!
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Do you struggle taking your toddler to coffee shops, want tips on how to photograph your little one or want to check out some of the shoots I’ve done recently? Just head on over to my blog and have a browse.