So, remember when my miniest Mumbler got messy at Messy Monkeys? Read the Blog Here , well last week over half term I took my slightly bigger Mumbler to get messy at Messy Science!
The award winning Messy Monkeys are now also running Messy Science classes for the bigger kids, aged around 4-6 years. It’s the same format as Messy Monkeys but with more structured learning for their inquisitive little minds and is also linked to the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage. We went along to find out exactly what happens in a Messy Science Class…..
Messy Scientists Jo and Katie (who also run Messy Monkeys) welcomed us in and had set up a colouring activity to keep the mini messy scientists entertained whilst we waited for everyone to arrive. They had on their lab coats and once everyone arrived they showed us some really cool experiments and we had chance to learn about different liquids and solids and test out whether they would dissolve in water. 
After the group activity, it was time to get messy for ourselves! We were talked though the different ‘stations’ that were all ready for us in the next room and a quick run though keeping safe (no eating the materials and no running as it can get slippy in all that mess!) but most of all, we were encouraged to try everything out, let our imaginations run wild and get messy! Grown ups are strictly forbidden from trying to prevent mess! This is why it’s so important to wear old clothes. Safe to say, we couldn’t wait to get stuck in!
When we went in, all the kids naturally ventured to whichever activity they fancied first. There was ‘potion’ making, with glitter, oils, water flowers, paint, gems etc and the kids could make any concoction they wanted in a little bottle which they got to take home. I think this was a definite favourite!
We also made hand and foot print ghosts and monsters, we made gloop with troll snot, which we could also bring home. There was bobbing for apples in slime and bobbing for jelly snakes in flour, as well as playdoh spider making and the chance to spray liquid sunlight on the bats and vampires on the paint wall.
I did chuckle to myself when my little messy scientist asked for a baby wipe after the first activity – because that’s what we do right? We wipe their hands, faces, feet etc when they get messy usually. Not here though! The look on her face when I said she could just leave it, wipe her hands on her clothes and continue the fun getting messy. Priceless! That’s the thing about Messy Monkeys and Messy Science, it’s freedom to just enjoy, have fun and soak up this magical time with your little one without having to stop what your doing to clean up. And it’s not in your house!
Of course, as this class is run by the Messy Monkeys crew, there was a lovely warm mini bath to dip hands and feet in 
that end to get just a little bit clean (don’t forget to bring a towel) – the perfect way to round off a lovely morning with my big girl . It’s not often we get to spend time as just the two of us, there’s usually a little brother in tow. It was fab to spend time doing an activity that was just for her, without having the distraction of a toddler. That’s why these classes are aimed at the bigger kids, because they still love to get messy, but the activities can be more tailored to their age.
To find out more about Messy Monkeys and Messy Science, click here. There are classes in Cheadle, Bramhall, Reddish, Hazel Grove, Heaton Moor and Trafford and you can even book a birthday party!
