Eyes on Early Years Volume 19 | Page 6

By: Eri Akbar Parent’s concern #1 “I have put my child in their best dress for nursery. Don’t let my child get messy.” Coming to the nursery is a time for children to feel free to play and explore, without worrying that they will make a mess. Messiness is part and parcel of growing and developing new skills. For example, children may be learning to hold and direct paintbrushes, so they might splash paint everywhere in the beginning before mastering control over the tools. Another example – the child might be learning how to feed himself with a spoon or a fork, so it’s expected that there would be some food spillages. Encourage parents to bring a few sets of daily wear clothes, so that children can get changed when they get really messy, and freshen up just before going home. But during their day at the nursery, expect them to get messy during activities as it is beneficial for their growth and development.