Messy + Outdoors = Fun for Toddlers + You

Even if you don’t like the idea of getting messy with your Little, it’s a lot more satisfying if you say, “Yes” to it once in awhile. Make it an event for yourself ... from water play to shaving cream to painting.

As a mother of four, I am well-acquainted with mess. That’s not to say I like it. So often I say, “No” when my kids want to do something out-of-the-box messy, but my mom heart feels guilty because I know how much fun it would be. Moms like me avoid shaving cream fights or stomping through mud puddles because let’s face it — kids are messy enough without giving Mom something else to clean up.

But Karie Fager, also a mother of four, believes that giving your kids messy experiences every now and then makes it easier for the times when you say, “Not today.”

Allowing kids to experiment with gooey and sticky gives them opportunities to explore different textures, create fun memories and experience the thrill of doing something that’s typically off-limits. To help your toddlers to create messy memories, consider one of these outdoor activities that only require old clothes and a little bit of clean up.

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Water Play

Getting wet is one of the easiest ways for kids (and moms) to ease their way into messy play. Fill a bucket with water, give your child some paint brushes, and let him “paint” the driveway, house and deck. Or, turn on a sprinkler and lay out a Slip n’ Slide for hours of water fun.

Mentos Experiment

You might have seen the choreographed Mentos and Diet Coke YouTube video, but your toddler will get a kick out of creating his own Mentos geyser. Open a two-liter of Diet Coke, drop in three or four mint-flavored Mentos candies and jump back as the soda spews up like fireworks.

Outdoor Painting

Create a giant painting experience by setting up a large canvas on top of a plastic painter’s drop cloth. Dip different kinds of balls into paint and then roll or throw the balls on the canvas to make a one-of-a-kind painting. Use different items with textures. You can also pick up washable, nontoxic tempura paint, hang up a dollar store shower curtain or a huge canvas and let your toddler unleash her inner Monet onto an erected canvas. Use your imagination — hang a canvas between trees or on your garage door.