Messy play at home means CB sneaking into our kitchen, when [she thinks] we are not looking, to rifle through our onion, ginger and garlic shelves. It can also mean playing the infamous calorie-burning game, loved by all toddlers, widely known as “How Many Toys Can My Parents Pick Up From The Floor?”.

So it was really refreshing to attend a messy play session at Patterpillar a few days ago. Here I could sit back, relax and watch CB explore different objects, textures and ways of playing.

Patterpillar has actually been around for a while. As well as running a unit for messy play, the team also cover parties and events. The water blob and slime workshops always seem to be very popular.

Messy play takes place on the ground floor of Lamar Bausher Building, Al Ghubrah Street. They hold morning (Monday – Saturday 10am – 12pm) and late afternoon/evening (Monday – Wednesday 4 – 6pm, Thursday – Saturday 5 – 7pm) sessions. I am really glad that we have finally found a place that offers a slot later on in the day, as most other play sessions in Muscat take place during the morning. We paid 3.5 OMR for the two hour session, which to me seems a reduced price since I recall it being advertised as 5 OMR in the past. They also offer a monthly membership (20 OMR) with unlimited visits.

The set up consists of messy trays (including sand and a blue salt mixture), a slide, a water blob, a water section, a large chalkboard and a painting room (for older children). There is no fixed structure to the session and children are free to roam and play as they wish.

Check out my latest YouTube video for highlights of our visit:

At first CB seemed a little unsure of this new environment and was playing cautiously, selecting and removing the toys she wanted to play with and making sure not to touch any textures she had not been exposed to before. Within no time she had overcome this and by the end of the session she was fully into it, running from one section to the next, drenched from splashing and playing with the water.

Later, after coming home, I saw on the Patterpillar Facebook page that the business is up for sale. I really hope that the new owners continue the messy play sessions as we had a brilliant time!

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What? Messy Play sessions at Patterpillar
Where? Ground Floor, behind Costa Coffee, Lamar Bausher Building, near Panorama Mall, Al Ghubrah Street, Muscat
When?
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 12pm
Monday – Wednesday: 4 – 6pm
Thursday – Saturday: 5 – 7pm
How much? 3.5 OMR per child per session (adults are free), 20 OMR monthly membership for unlimited visits

Find out more on the Patterpillar Facebook and Instagram pages.