Beep Beep, Zoom! Taking Off at Our Transport-Themed Session
Things got moving at MessyBeanz for our Transport Session! From blasting off into deep space to sailing across oat oceans and rolling out playdough roads, our little explorers were on the move from start to finish.
If you missed out on the fun, here is a look at what we set up and how these simple, tactile ideas help build big skills for every child—including our neurodivergent playmates and SEN sensory seekers!
Our absolute highlight was the Deep Space & Rocket Tray. We transformed dark, glossy black rice into a sparkling galaxy filled with sleek rockets ready for countdown. The contrast of the dark rice against the vibrant space vehicles was such a hit! Dry rice is always a fantastic, clean texture for children who might be a little hesitant about wet or sticky play. It gives rich tactile feedback through little fingers, and the act of scooping, pouring, and landing rockets on target gives hand-eye coordination a brilliant workout without feeling like work at all.
Next up, we took a trip to the seaside with our Oat Ocean Tray. Instead of water, we used soft, silky oats as our choppy sea for boats and sea transport to sail through. Oats are such a gorgeous sensory base—they feel warm, soft, and soothing to run hands through, making them deeply calming for children who need a moment to settle or self-regulate. Plus, using dry kitchen ingredients like oats means parents can relax knowing it's totally safe for little ones who are still exploring textures with their mouths!
Finally, we set up our Transport Playdough Station. We put out soft, squishy playdough alongside wheels, vehicles, and road rollers so the children could press, push, and build their own routes. Playdough is unmatched when it comes to developing hand strength and motor planning. Every time a child squeezes, rolls, or presses a vehicle into the dough, they are strengthening the exact muscles needed for handwriting, using scissors, and independence with everyday tasks like dressing.
The best part of MessyBeanz is watching every single child navigate the space in their own way—whether they want to crash diggers into oats, quietly sort rockets in the space rice, or spend the whole session squishing playdough. There is no right or wrong way to play here, just a non-judgmental space to explore, create, and have fun together.
We love seeing new and returning faces at our stay and play sessions! Our setups change every time to keep things fresh, exciting, and wonderfully messy.
Spaces for our upcoming sessions are open now, but they do fill up quickly to make sure every child has plenty of space to move around and explore comfortably.