In the Kōwhai Room, messy hands mean busy minds. Gloop play, with its magical texture, offers tamariki a rich sensory experience that builds fine motor skills, supports emotional expression, and strengthens early science and language learning.
If you've ever watched a toddler in our Kōwhai Room immerse their hands into "gloop" – a simple mix of cornflour and water – and wondered why, the answer lies beneath the sticky chaos. Gloop is a powerful form of ako (learning) that engages the senses, strengthens fine motor skills, and builds the foundation for kōrero (language), pūtaiao (science), and emotional understanding.
To tamariki, gloop feels like magic. To teachers, it’s a learning tool hiding in plain sight. Toddlers learn through all five senses, and gloop is a sensory powerhouse. Slippery, cold, runny, sticky – its texture stimulates touch receptors and helps tamariki become more comfortable with different sensations.
Messy play like this can also be soothing and calming. It supports emotional regulation and gives tamariki a way to express big feelings through play.
Scooping, pinching, and squeezing the gloop strengthens hand muscles needed later for essential life skills like writing, eating, and dressing.
In our Kōwhai Room, children are natural explorers. Gloop invites them to question, test, and discover. As tamariki explore the gloop, they’re encouraged to describe what they feel. With support from kaiako (teachers) and whānau, children extend their vocabulary and strengthen oral language skills.
Messy play isn’t just about making a mess – it’s about making connections: between hands and brain, curiosity and confidence, and feelings and communication.