5 Taste-safe Messy Play activities for 6-12 month olds

The benefits of sensory play go far beyond a social media-worthy photo of your adorable little one covered in a not-so-adorable mess. Introducing as many textures, sights, smells and sounds as possible to your baby is a great way to stimulate neuronal connections in their brains, stimulating development from an early age. Messy play - where your child can get their hands really stuck into their activity, is especially stimulating for babies, and can even be regulating for older children.

The good news is, it doesn't have to be an expensive or complicated task to set up a fabulously development-boosting activity for your baby. Get stuck into sensory playtime with these simple bases you can create using taste-safe ingredients you might have in your cupboards!

1. OObleck

Oobleck is a non-newtonian fluid. This means it doesn't behave in the same way as 'normal' fluids such as water. It appears almost solid when energy is transferred to it - by movement, such as fast stirring, vibration or hitting and so on. Yet, touch or mix the oobleck slowly and it remains in its liquid state. It's a fascinating activity for older children (and even adults) but also makes a unique sensory base for babies, ideal for first sensory play because of its low toxicity, taste-safe nature and of course, how simple it is to prep and clean!

You will need:

2 Parts Cornflour

1 Part Water

Optional: Food Colouring

Directions:

1. It couldn't be simpler! If you want to colour your oobleck, add colour to the water before mixing. Mix the water and cornflour together until the cornflour has dissolved - the texture should be viscous and tough when you mix it fast or add pressure!

2. If the texture is still runny and you aren't feeling any resistance, add more cornflour and you're good to go.

3. Place in a tuff tray for sitting babies, on a small tray in a highchair or as a floor activity.

2. Yoghurt finger painting

A simple sensory set up that will allow younger babies to create their own artwork without fear of ingesting harmful paint! Use the yoghurt paint in the bath for maximum exploration - it will rinse off easily when you're finished and saves time cleaning baby, too.

You will need:

Plain Yoghurt

Food Colouring

Directions:

1. Separate a few spoonfuls of yoghurt into bowls and add a few drops of colouring to each

2. Sit baby in the bath with the bowls, add some tubs, spoons or sponges

3. Let them dip their fingers and make marks on the bath - model finger painting for them to watch and try to mimic

4. When finished, rinse everything (and little one) off with warm water

Cereal sand

For this one, simply blend your cereal of choice in a food processor or blender (ensure you know of any allergens when selecting your cereal). Some good choices are rice puffs, oats or even cornflakes! Spread your 'sand' over a tray or mat and add toy vehicles or some scoops - just make sure you supervise little one at all times!

Rainbow noodles

This is a fun fine motor skills activity suitable for little ones in the phase of bringing things to their mouths to explore. You can leave the noodles as they are or incorporate another texture or toys into the mix according to what you think your baby might enjoy.

You will need:

Spaghetti/egg/rice noodles

Food Colouring

Directions:

1. Cook your noodles according to packet instructions. For an extra pop of colour, if you have the time and resources, you can colour the cooking water at this stage

2. When cooked, strain in colander and rinse with cold water until cooled

3. Separate noodles into piles according to desired number of different colours and add food colouring drops to each, mixing with your hands or fork

4. Leave to dry slightly to avoid colour transfer onto baby

5. Allow your baby to explore and grab the noodles. You could twist some around some cleanable toys or even float them in a bowl of water to play with for a cooling summer's day activity!

Veggie explore

A healthy, messy, fine motor-friendly activity that will keep your little one busy. Even toddlers love this set up, and the clean up is super easy - simply pour away any unused veggies and wipe your play area clean!

You will need:

Peas and sweetcorn or other similar-sized veggies

Scoops, containers and dough tools

Directions:

1. Cook 2-3 cups of peas and sweetcorn until soft enough to squash easily between your finger and thumb

2. Pour onto a large flat tray or play mat

3. Add scoops, beakers, rollers or other utensils of choice

4. Allow your baby to explore pinching, moving the tiny veggies or learning what happens when they squash and squish them!

There we have it! 5 simple activities perfect for igniting the senses and learning through play, taste-safe so suitable for babies who have weaned onto solid food. Check out our social media pages linked at the bottom for daily inspiration!