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halloween arrived early this year in nanshan’s zhaoshang subdistrict as chinese and expat families gathered at the nanshan international cultural exchange & service center (nsic) on friday morning for a delightful and messy celebration. the messy play halloween event was organized and guided by filipino speech therapist alexandra uy and occupational therapist irene zhang. the event provided toddlers and their parents with an opportunity to enjoy spooky-themed activities while getting their hands dirty.

the day's sensory activities included flour play, slime making, shaving cream, color mixing, finger painting and colorful spaghetti. uy and zhang's eco-friendly approach ensured all art supplies were safe and sustainable for kids.
uy shared with shenzhen daily her inspiration for the event: “i love halloween. it’s my favorite time of the year, and it’s a good time to be a little spooky while incorporating all the different textures and colors for the children.”
uy added that the messy play is beneficial for children because it ignites their creativity and fosters interactions. “it’s very important for the children, especially at their young age, to start to explore various textures and materials and to stimulate the senses. new senses always give them ideas. i would also like them to think outside of the box. it’s also good for kids to learn problem solving and social skills.”
pankti jakin maniar from india traveled from luohu to the service center with her three-year-old girl, and the mother and daughter had fun together at their first messy play party. maniar said, “kids are enjoying it. it’s very beneficial for them because they can meet different kids and different cultures.”

diana aguilera from cuba also brought her 10-month-old girl jasmine to experience her first halloween party. “it’s nice to have a halloween activity fit for each age and background. the kids are able to get engaged with new textures and with one another and for moms to have time to relax and enjoy,” aguilera told shenzhen daily.

the moms also expressed their gratitude for the service center having invited experts and hosting the event and hope more events like this will be held in the future.
messy play, also known as sensory play or sensory exploration, is an educational and recreational activity for children, typically in the early years of development. it involves providing children with various materials and substances that are tactile, sensory-rich, and, well, messy. the purpose of messy play is to stimulate a child's senses and encourage them to explore, create, and learn through sensory experiences.