How will my child get the most out of their time at The Messy Spot?

Your child will have great fun if the accompanying adult enjoys sharing ideas and motivating the child to explore the equipment available at The Messy Spot. 

Adults do not need to know how to draw or paint like a great artist! Small children just need guidance and encouragement.

Children aged 5 years plus generally need much less attention than younger children.

Staff are always on hand to share ideas and show parents how to use the drawing and painting accessories provided. Feel free to ask!

If adults visit The Messy Spot in groups, please keep the above advice in mind.

Very high-energy children with a limited attention span will almost certainly need greater guidance and attention from a parent or carer.

I arrived at 12:31pm - why couldn't I enter the shop to play?

The Messy Spot opens at 9:30am and the doors close at exactly 12:30pm without exception. 

To protect the convenience of 'no bookings' it is important to limit entry. Due to high cleaning costs, our entry cut-off must be 12:30pm. Customers have 3 hours to enter the shop before the doors close.

If you arrive exactly at or even slightly after 12:30pm and can see people inside, it is because they entered before 12:30pm. Children that enter before 12:30pm can play until 2:00pm.

There may be a few minutes discrepancy between your clock and ours.

Thank you for your understanding.

Can I buy food at The Messy Spot?

We currently do not sell snack foods.  However you are welcome to bring your own snacks. We ask that children eat at a table rather than on the move and please clean up any food mess from tables and the floor before you leave.

Sultanas just love our floor tiles. If you bring sultanas please make sure you pick up any dropped and forgotten ones before they get squished into the floor :) Thanks!!

I really need coffee. Do you sell it?

Yes we sell Espresso coffee, tea and herbals!  Please do not bring coffee purchased from other vendors into The Messy Spot.

My child is not yet 2 years old. Are they too young to play at The Messy Spot?

Our general age recommendation is from 2 years old however there are no rules when it comes to creative and messy play.

The Messy Spot is a great option if you are introducing painting to a child 16 months to 2 years.  The one thing we cannot guarantee is their attention span.

We see toddlers who hang up their paint brush after only a few minutes and toddlers who experiment for a long time! You'll never know until they try. 

Please be aware that we do not offer refunds.

My child is 18 months old why can't they enter for free?

It is common that this age group accompanies an older sibbling to The Messy Spot and they usually want to follow the lead of their older brother or sister.  Once children are at The Messy Spot it is difficult to exclude children from play and we certainly don't wish to.

The 18 to 23 month old age group creates a great deal of mess because their play is extremely spontaneous and uncoordinated.

Even if they don't play for long they still enjoy experimenting, creating, learning and having a great time messing up at The Messy Spot!  In fact, The Messy Spot is the ideal place to introduce baby artists to a world of colourful mess.

Do you have art coats available?

Art coats are available for children.  We also recommend that children and adults wear old clothes and shoes.

Do I have to get involved at the play space and at the workshops?

At the playspace and during our workshops we find that small children almost always seek the company, guidance and affirmation of a parent or carer. We encourage parents to get involved and to share the experience with their little ones.

The activities are great fun and it's hard to resist joining in!

The staff at The Messy Spot do not supervise children as they play. It is the responsibility of the parent, guardian or carer to supervise and engage the child in play.

Is The Messy Spot the right place for my child?

Children of all ages play with completely different styles at The Messy Spot. Their attention differs as does their natural interest in craft activities.

If you feel your child responds better to guided group activities then we recommend the workshops.

If your child naturally enjoys their own time and space to paint and create then the casual playspace is recommended. Of course, they too will also enjoy the workshops if they love craft!

Are you a child minding service or daycare?

No.  Parent supervision (18 years +) is required.

The staff at The Messy Spot do not supervise children as they play. It is the responsibility of the parent, guardian or carer to supervise and engage the child in play.

Will a member of staff look after my child at The Messy Spot?

Parent supervision is required at The Messy Spot. We find that older children 5 years plus play very independently at The Messy Spot however younger children require much greater supervision from a parent or carer.

What paint do you use?

We use a water based junior acrylic by Educational Colours.  Educational Colours are a major supplier of paint and craft products into schools, day care centres and retailers Australia wide. 

All Educational Colours products have been designed and tested to be easily and safely used in pre-schools, kinders, primary and secondary schools.

As a matter of policy all Educational colours products are tested to ensure that they meet or exceed Australian and, where appropriate, European safety standards.

All their paints are guaranteed Non Toxic.

Will the paint stain?

Depending on the fabric, darker colour paints such as red, blue and purple can cause a mark so please wear older clothes and shoes.

Our paint supplier recommends the following to remove paint stains:

Washing Instructions:

Soak garment, wash in warm water with detergent or 'Wondersoap'. Use of stain removers may make stain removal more difficult.

What should I wear to The Messy Spot

Children and adults please wear old clothes and shoes.