Messy Learning - Take 1

So you've probably heard that the UK has been getting a lot of rain this summer. All this rain has posed a great challenge to those who have to entertain toddlers all day long. Or one toddler, who can seem like 10 toddlers when he's on a whiny bender. When it's sunny, we can go for walks and go to the park or take a bus into town to hang out at the mall (Henry totally LOVES the mall)(seriously)(we're still hoping for grandchildren one day) or whatever. When it rains...well, you have to get creative. I am actually a somewhat creative person, though not when it comes to entertaining toddlers. With that, I usually draw a blank and just say "fuck it, we're going to the indoor play center...AGAIN."

With a lack of ideas in my head when it's pouring outside and Henry is looking at me with those big gorgeous eyes he's inherited from me, I turn to the internet for inspiration. Most of the ideas I've stolen from the internet have been a big fat bomb. The ones I have tried Henry just wasn't into. I keep trying though, certainly there will be something that will entertain my child.

Today, as the rain clouds gathered outside, I decided to try Messy Learning using shaving cream and finger paint from PlayCreateExplore.com (great site). It was easy enough to put together. Three bowls - three different colors of finger paint - add shaving cream - mix until frothy. Let kid stick hands in and squeal in delight and wonder.

Unless, of course, you have my kid. My kid will stick his one finger in tentatively, try to eat it, get gently told 'no, don't eat it', stick his hand in, squish it around, realize he hates the feel of a bunch of shaving cream on his hands and will start screaming. No amount of "here, watch Mommy do it!" or "it's fun! it's fun!" will stop the screaming. The only thing that stopped Henry screaming was cleaning him off.

To be fair to Henry, he hated the feel of grass on his feet up until he was a year old so I guess we'll just have to give messy learning some time. OR, perhaps he's inherited my "messes make me nervous" policy as well as those big gorgeous eyes.