Skip to Content

Messy Play

For babies and toddlers aged 0-5

Next Dates Europe/London
Add to calendar:
iCal Outlook Google Agenda
Join us for Messy Play sessions on Tuesday mornings!

with Carla Smith 

These sessions will meet every other week from 10:15-11am for some sensory-based fun for babies and toddlers (aged 0-5 years).

In Messy Play we will employ different materials to craft, drawn, paint and discover textures, sounds, colours and shapes together. The sessions focus on early years foundational aspects of sensory development, giving babies and toddlers a space to engage freely with different sensorial stimuli. 

The sessions are structured with 2 play areas - one playing mat on the floor for babies and small children and a table with materials and instructions for older children to engage in more structured creative activities with their parents.

These classes are also an opportunity for parents to find new routines and combat parental isolation by meeting other creative parents.

Book your child's place - adults attend for free!

All sessions employ safe to ingest/edible materials. A full list of ingredients will be provided each session. Please get in touch with Front of House  info@edinburghprintmakers.co.uk if you have any specific questions.


January 6 | Slime Session! 

Get stuck in with a sensory slime session. With various stations, smells, textures and slimes, learn through sensory exploration in this fun and messy morning!

January 20 | Hibernating Creatures

The days will soon be starting to get noticeably longer but until then many animals are still hibernating and hiding for winter. In this messy play session we will see what hibernating creatures we can uncover as we think about den creation and what makes a safe space!

February 3 | Handprint Flower Bouquets

Create handprint bouquets and explore a sweet sensory activity during this valentines themed messy play! There will be the option for children to create a keepsake handprint paper flower bouquet or simply explore and play at the sensory station!

February 17 | Pancake Day!​

Celebrate pancake day during messy play with a dough making sensory bucket and pancake flipping craft table! We will make ‘frying pan’ pancake flipping toys and give our paper pancakes faces with toppings!

March 3 | Dinosaurs!

Step back in time with this playful dinosaur themed sensory play! Find dinosaurs hiding in a swamp and then bring your own dinosaur to life using collage and paints.

March 17 | Springtime
Celebrate the start of spring with a spring themed messy play. We will help some plants grow in a sensory bucket activity and create a beautiful garden scene in a group painting.

March 31 | Easter Bunny Making

In this Easter bunny themed messy play we will help some bunnies find food as we search through sensory buckets to find vegetables to give them. We will also decorate their burrow and have a painting based table craft.

Carla Smith


Focusing on methods of sustaining and nurturing human relationships, Carla Smith explores our nuanced social landscape. Carla frequently uses food as a medium to navigate tender, celebratory moments. She often uses socially engaged methods, encouraging participation through multi-sensory, communal experiences such as shared meals; inviting audiences to be a part of the artwork through touch, taste, smell and conversation. 

Carla works across a variety of mediums, with printmaking at the core of her practice, and also spends time with ceramics, drawing, film and bookmaking. This multidisciplinary approach naturally feeds into the workshops she runs as a freelance creative practitioner. She delivers children’s and adult creative workshops, aiming to create relaxed environments where individuals feel supported to explore materials. Her experience in childcare informs her delivery of early years workshops and contributes to a wider, people-centred approach throughout her practice.