At Practically Family Holiday Club, messy play is a big part of what we do - from concocting potions in the mud kitchen to making gooey slime and creative chaos indoors. Because while it might look like a pile of mud pies and glitter explosions, messy play is where the magic happens.

It’s hands-on learning that builds confidence, sparks imagination and helps children develop key skills - from fine motor control to creative thinking. Plus, it’s simply joyful!

But we know that not everyone loves the thought of paint-splattered floors or mud footprints through the kitchen! So if messy play at home makes your stomach somersault… just leave the really messy stuff to us.

 

Here are five easy, messy play ideas we love, and that you can try this month:

 

1. Mud Kitchen Madness

If your child’s ever handed you a mud pie with a proud grin, you already know the joy of the mud kitchen. Grab old pots, pans and spoons, and let them mix mud, leaves, and sticks into their “magical recipes.”

Tip: Create a menu board for their mud café using a bit of cardboard and chalk - “Leaf Lasagne” and “Twig Stew” are always bestsellers. Add old measuring cups or cupcake tins to make “mud muffins.” When they’re done, hose everything down together - instant splashy fun and teamwork!

 

2. Leaf Soup & Nature Potions

Autumn’s treasure trove of colours makes this one irresistible. Give kids a bucket of water, some leaves, petals and conkers, and let them “cook” up their own potions. Add a dash of glitter or food colouring for extra sparkle.

Tip: Turn it into a Potion Parade! Once their brews are mixed, line up jars or cups on a tray and let them name them - “Dragon’s Breath,” “Fairy Glow,” or “Monster Mix.” Then pour it all back into the earth and say a “magic goodbye” spell together (make sure anything you mix in is biodegradable).

 

3. Pumpkin Carving… Without the Knives

Skip the carving kit. Scoop out a pumpkin and let little ones go wild squishing the insides! Add scoops, spoons or toy animals and it becomes an amazing sensory activity.

Tip: Once the fun’s done, pop the scooped seeds into a tray for Pumpkin Seed Treasure Hunting. Cover them with oats, flour, or lentils and hide small toy bugs or gems for kids to find. You can even dry the seeds later and plant them next year for your very own pumpkin patch.

 

4. Edible Slime or Gloop

Our holiday club favourite… slime! Mix cornflour and water (about two parts flour to one part water) for quick, non-toxic gloop. Kids can add food colouring, glitter or tiny toy creatures.

Tip: Give kids a mission: can they rescue the “frozen” toys or “hidden treasure” before the slime disappears? It’s part science experiment, part adventure quest - and it all brushes clean once dry!

 

5. Autumn Play Dough Creations

Make your own play dough (or use shop-bought) and add cinnamon, orange zest, or cocoa powder for that cosy autumn smell. Provide leaves, acorns or cookie cutters and let imaginations run wild.

Tip: Set up a Play Dough Bakery! Give them paper plates and cupcake cases and let them open a shop for you to visit. We’ll leave pricing to your discretion!

 

Why Mess Matters

Messy play isn’t just about getting dirty - it’s about confidence, creativity and connection.

Children learn through their senses, and when they mix, squish, pour and build, they’re exploring the world in the best possible way.

It encourages problem-solving, independence and imagination and, perhaps most importantly, it’s child-led play. There’s no “right” way to do it, just endless possibilities!

 

At Practically Family Holiday Club, we embrace the mess - because we know it’s where the memories are made. So go ahead and try a few of these at home… and if you’d rather keep your kitchen floor glitter-free, you know where to find us during the school holidays!

 

Ready for more adventures?

Join us at our next Practically Family Holiday Club in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport and sign up to our newsletter for lots more fun ideas for the whole family!