Saturday event encourages kids to get 'Messy'

Getting messy not only will be allowed, it will be encouraged Saturday at the Show Me Center.

Thousands of children and adults are expected to attend Messy Morning, an event designed to strengthen families by helping parents see the importance of allowing their children to learn while having fun, according to event committee chairwoman Resa Armstrong.

The event, which will help promote autism awareness, will focus on equipping parents with ideas on ways they can teach their children to play in a "green" responsible way. New this year will be a room in which parents can find activities and an environment friendly toward children with autism and sensory issues.

"The objective is to equip parents with ideas and understanding about how they can learn through play," said Armstrong, who is office manager and a parent educator at the Community Caring Council.

Activities from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., by their nature, will result in the children getting messy. Among them are face painting, playing with small animals, planting seedlings, blow painting, hand and footprint painting, rainbow slime, a whipped-cream find and just playing in the dirt.

Children will have the chance to slide through mounds of shaving cream during a "Mud Run," sponsored by SoutheastHEALTH, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Parents are urged to bring an extra change of clothing for their children, and shoes should be easy to take on and off.

The target audience is children from birth through fourth grade, but all children are welcome because there will be plenty of activities for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The event is free, but canned food donations to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank will be accepted and are encouraged.

Messy Morning is a collaboration of agencies throughout the community, including United Way of Southeast Missouri and the Community Caring Council.

United Way executive director Nancy Jernigan said Messy Morning "is designed to promote simple things families can do to help prepare children for success in school. Child-care professionals will show caregivers how children learn from play activities and how easy it is to replicate these activities at home."

Learning through play is especially critical for the development of preschoolers, Armstrong said, because "the first six years set the tone for the rest of the child's life."

Janice Jones, the United Way's local Success By 6 coordinator, said helping children learn doesn't necessarily involve expensive toys. Success By 6 is a national initiative of the agency; it focuses on helping parents prepare their children for academic success before they start school.

"Young children learn from concrete things, not abstract things," Jones said. "They learn through their senses. Messy Morning is a wonderful way for children to be exposed to a variety of play activities."

This will be the sixth year for Messy Morning. Last year's event drew more than 3,500 children and parents.

Corporate and community sponsors include the Little Lambs Children's Sale, River Radio, Southeast Missouri State University, the Southeast Missourian, SoutheastHEALTH and Tender Hearts Child Therapy Center.

Want to go?

What: Messy Morning

When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Show Me Center

Info: 334-9634, capefamilies.com/messy-morning

Pertinent address:

1333 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO