Messing About vs. Making a Mess

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

During your childhood, did you have the opportunity to mess about? Can you recall the sense of freedom and confidence that came with that experience? Can you remember the pure pleasure you received from the process?

It is important to make the distinction between getting messy and messing about. It seems that art materials and art experiences quickly become categorized as messy. The focus can all too easily become centered on keeping the area spotless or making certain that the child remains clean. However, this is not only an unreasonable expectation but also a deterrent for the child’s authentic exploration of the creative process.

Original post date: October 7, 2014