Playtime Pantry

10 messy play ideas worth the cleanup

Paint, water, foam and goo. Put a towel down and let them go.

How we ranked it: Our messiest activities, ranked by how long they keep toddlers playing for the cleanup involved.

1
Mud Kitchen
Dirt, water, old pans. The most reliable hour of outdoor play there is.
30–90 min of play · Ages 2–10 yrs
2
Small World Bin
A tub, a filler, and a whole world that lives on the kitchen floor.
25–90 min of play · Ages 2–9 yrs
3
Frozen Excavation
Freeze them in a block overnight. Spend the morning digging them out.
20–60 min of play · Ages 2–10 yrs
4
Tire Track Painting
Roll the cars through paint and across a long sheet of paper.
15–40 min of play · Ages 2–7 yrs
5
Oobleck
Cornstarch and water: solid when you hit it, liquid when you don't.
15–40 min of play · Ages 2–11 yrs
6
Foam Paint
Shaving cream and a squirt of color, spread across the bath wall.
15–35 min of play · Ages 3–8 yrs
7
Ice Paint
Freeze paint on sticks and paint with it as it melts.
15–35 min of play · Ages 2–8 yrs
8
Cotton Ball Splat Painting
Dip, throw, splat. Paper on the ground and paint flying through the air.
15–30 min of play · Ages 2–6 yrs
9
Paint the Toys
Plastic animals in a tub of paint, then a bath to wash it all off.
15–30 min of play · Ages 18 mo–5 yrs
10
Fizzing Volcano
Bicarb, vinegar, and a reliable shriek of delight.
10–25 min of play · Ages 2–10 yrs