Nursery World - Parents shun 'messy' activities to avoid the clean up

Nearly two-thirds of parents don’t regularly take part in activities like painting or playing in the mud with their children because of the cleaning up required, reveals new research.

The poll, commissioned by Busy Bees, found parents favour reading to their children, rather than painting and playing with sand PHOTO Busy Bees

The poll of 1,000 parents, commissioned by Busy Bees, found that parents consider space and mess when choosing which toys to buy, while others said they don’t have the time to set up and clear away certain activities at home.

Parents that took part were more likely to say they read to their children than took part in creative activities, such as painting.

However, according to the nursery group, colouring, drawing and playing with sand or mud are among the top activities the children of those polled enjoy the most.

Respondents to the survey also identified a lack of inspiration and the cost involved as factors which have discouraged them initiating creative play, plus the knowledge that their child will do these activities at nursery, or with their childminder.

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