“Oh no, I can’t let the kids play with playdough,” you might exclaim, cringing at the thought of it sticking to your carpet. But honestly, how can you parent without it? Playdough guarantees at least an hour of your “me time” — time that should probably be spent cleaning but usually involves scrolling through social media instead. While they mold, sculpt, and create dino tracks with their action figures, you find yourself deep-diving into the digital lives of people from your past. No cleaning gets done during this time, and that’s okay because the kids are happy. And let’s face it, happy and messy go hand in hand.
The same sentiment applies to paint. I know several parents who wouldn’t dream of letting their kids paint indoors. Meanwhile, I hand my kids every type of paint I can find. Watercolor? Perfect for those days when I’m feeling lazy. “Here you go, kiddo. Just don’t paint the walls.” This still nets me an hour of freedom, likely spent sipping coffee and contemplating the ever-growing laundry pile. Let’s be real—like every sane mother out there, I despise doing laundry.
If I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll squeeze out some tempera paint on an old Amazon box and let them go wild with finger painting. They proudly hand me their “masterpieces,” completely covered in rakes, lines, and handprints, declaring, “Look at my spaceship, Mama!” Instead of honestly wondering, “What on earth is that?” I find myself cooing, “That’s beautiful, sweetheart,” and then finding a spot for it to dry.
This glorious creativity means their hands get painted. They squish it between their fingers, under their nails, and smear it everywhere. Moms everywhere cringe at the thought. We know what comes next: the forced march to the sink, pleading for them not to touch anything, followed by a scrubbing session that somehow ends with paint all over us and the kitchen. Then, there’s the added chore of cleaning up the sink and whatever else they managed to touch on the way. It’s no wonder some parents opt to ban paint altogether. But here’s the thing: along with their colorful creations, they’ve also unleashed a delightful mess, and they were genuinely happy. Messiness is part of childhood, and research has shown that kids actually learn better when they’re allowed to get dirty. In one study, toddlers grasped nonsense words tied to solids more effectively when they were allowed to play messily. It’s a fundamental part of being a kid.
We’ve really lost touch with this need for mess. Children’s art has devolved into a Pinterest-inspired frenzy of perfectly arranged crafts instead of free-spirited creativity. We should hand them glue, glitter, and bits and pieces, and let them create without interference—except for the occasional praise. They’ll cover construction paper in glue and then douse it in glitter, because let’s face it, glitter is magical. Just hope they don’t eat it. It’s like craft herpes: once it’s in your life, it never truly leaves.
They’ll present you with paper heavy with paint and fingerprints, and you’ll find those works of art scattered around your home—on the dining room table, the TV stand, even on the dog crate. You’ll be shuffling their artwork for days, but that’s alright. They made it, and they take pride in it.
Sure, it’s challenging. Between reading Dr. Seuss for the umpteenth time, playing hibernating bears, and dealing with laundry, carving out time to scrub acrylics off the kitchen table isn’t easy. I completely understand why some parents ban playdough and paints, but kids truly need this experience. We have to embrace the chaos—yes, even more of it. Glitter storms, bead spills, and splatters on pristine walls are all part of the package. Kids need messy play. They need art.
Furthermore, they also require personal messiness. When outside, let them use the hose to “dig for worms.” This usually involves spraying water in one spot until worms emerge, resulting in muddy clothes and grass-stained skin. Or they may create a muddy concoction to slather on trees and sidewalks, leaving your curb appeal to include a beautifully scrawled T. Rex. You learn to love it.
The best part? Kids are great at cleaning up. When they wash up, they’re still playing, giving you more time to unwind or tackle the glitter that will never fully leave your kitchen table. You can rinse the mud out of their hair, and those mud drawings on your house will eventually wash away in the rain. The worms will find their way back underground (you might need to clarify that for them). But those moments of joy—playing in the rain, spraying water, and creating a muddy masterpiece—will stick with you long after the kids (and their clothes) are scrubbed clean.
So, let your kids make a mess. It’s tough to watch them paint their bodies without intervening. It might drive you a little bonkers—or maybe that’s just the ex you’ve been stalking on Facebook?—but allow them to unleash their creativity. Then, as a life lesson, involve them in the cleanup. They get to use the good paint, but they must help wipe down the table and put everything away. Or just give them some playdough and handle it yourself. Choose your battle.
For more on parenting and creative messiness, check out our other blog posts like this one and learn from experts like Make a Mom. Additionally, explore valuable resources about pregnancy for more insights.
Summary
Embracing messiness is essential for children’s creativity and development. While the chaos of art supplies, paint, and playdough can be overwhelming for parents, allowing kids to explore their messy side fosters happiness and learning. Cleanups become part of the process, and the joy of childhood memories is worth the effort.