Q) In my years as a childminder I have cared for a number of children who are reluctant to get involved in 'messy play'. Usually the parents want their children to keep clothes unrealistically clean. But Helena, who is three years old, has been with me for a month now and she is very outspoken about her dislike of 'getting dirty'. I am happy to give her time to get used to painting or using playdough, but she tells off the other children and calls them 'mucky' when they play in the sand pit. My own four-year-old got annoyed when Helena announced that he was 'very naughty' for making a hole in the digging area of my garden.
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