ABSTRACT
Most practitioners instinctively know that messy play is good, even if it fills some with dread or can only be tolerated if 'not in my home!' Love it or hate it, 'material engagements' are a key ingredient of the early years landscape and this book aims to increase understanding and provide confidence in the true learning and development value of messy play. While specialist messy play materials have a limited presence, most things are capable of being used for messy play, making resources infinitely varied and limited only by the imagination. Messy play can be exciting and fun, providing endless possibilities, but it can also be enriching and satisfying, captivating and incredibly calming. With most myths they tend to contain a nugget of truth. Preparation is of course invaluable (although no guarantee) for stress-free material engagements but this should not become an excuse for avoiding spontaneity.
