What a Mess!
May 20, 2008
Slippery, gooey, stretchy, grainy, smooth.... what a way to
bring these words to life! The Rock Creek PAT program held a 'messy
morning' at the Konza Kids art studio in Westmoreland on Friday the
16th. 18 children, ranging in age from less than a year to
preschool age, participated in four different 'messy' stations.
Painting using brushes or hands or yes, even feet was one
popular station. A 'rice table' with cups, scoops and pans to
fill and dump (yes everywhere!) and cornstarch 'ooze' with two big
tubs of colored 'ooze' to test with your fingers and toes.
What a strange substance it is! And finally crayons and
paper where the kids were traced life size and scribbled and
colored their 'person' any way they wanted.
What a Mess!
Sensory play is a marvelous way for children to learn. The brain processes tactile stimulation (messy play) in a totally different way than things we see or hear thus building or re-enforcing different connections in the brain. Sensory play also allows children to experience 'slippery' and other such descriptive words, which will help them be better readers down the road.
PAT is a year-round, free, birth to three program available to ANY family in the Rock Creek district with a child in that age range. If you are interested in enrolling in PAT or know someone who might be, check out our enrollment information on the Rock Creek web site under the PAT tab or call the district office at 457-3732 or email schmitzd@rockcreekschools.org .
