What do we think about when we hear the word 'messy'? Untidy, muddled, disorganised, confused, cluttered, shambolic, disordered, disarray or perhaps the instruction, 'Don't make a mess'.
The word messy is often given negative meanings and calling an important aspect of play 'messy' can lead to it being undervalued. This guide aims to reclaim messy play as an important part of early years provision and demonstrate its importance for young children's learning and development.
In this article I will be sharing the work of the Thomas Coram Centre for Children and Families, a partnership between Coram Family, one of the oldest children's charities in this country, and the London Borough of Camden. The centre works with children from birth (and before), their parents and the wider community.
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