Discover how messy play supports learning, confidence and joy in early childhood.

Messy play is more than chaos. It’s curiosity and confidence in action.

In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, Bev Marchi, a longtime early childhood educator, joins host Rhonda Meyers to explore the power of sensory-rich play. Bev shares how hands-on experiences help children learn and collaborate—and find joy in the process.

Drawing from her own childhood spent exploring nature, Bev explains how early sensory experiences shaped her teaching philosophy. Paint splatters, mud puddles and melted snowballs aren’t disruptions. They’re opportunities for discovery and social-emotional learning.

[00:09:59] “One of the first things we talk about when there’s messy play is, ‘You know, it’s okay. We’re washable.’”

Throughout the conversation, Rhonda and Bev reflect on the role educators play in creating safe environments where children can take risks, make mistakes and learn from them.

Bev explains that messy play doesn’t always make a mess. It can help ground young people and give them a sense of wonder.

[00:17:31] “Almost every day, we spent a couple of hours in the woods . . . and one day, I had a couple of really active boys call me over to their fort. . . . And they said, 'Isn't it just so peaceful?’”

Bev reminds us that growth happens when we let go and let children explore the beautiful, the orderly and the messy.

Why Messy Matters

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