Get stuck into these top sensory and messy play classes in Christchurch.
Have a little one who loves to be hands-on? The magic of messy and sensory play is endless, children are born to explore with all of their senses and ‘cross boundaries’, making these messy play classes in Christchurch beneficial in so many ways!
Read more: Christchurch Cafés and Restaurants With Bouncy Castles for Kids
Messy play classes in Christchurch:
Messy Mates
A popular class in the world of messy play in Christchurch, Messy Mates hosts regular pop-ups during term time that never fail to get little ones stuck into their uniquely themed creations. Tickets cost $15 for one adult and one child for an hour-long session. Messy Mates is also available for custom party hire, starting from $35 per tray.
Creative Capers Playgroup
Running every Thursday morning from 9.45am to 11.15am, Creative Capers is a messy play playground for preschoolers held at Elim Church, 193 Grahams Road in Burnside. Kiddos can enjoy a new messy theme each week while parents and caregivers tuck into complimentary morning tea. The session costs $3 per child and no registration is needed to attend.
Creative Capers, 193 Grahams Road, Burnside, www.facebook.com/CreativeCapersElim
Little Messy Monkeys, Rangiora
An immersive messy play experience for babies six months up to five years, Rangiora-based Little Messy Monkeys creates casual, pop-up events on both weekdays and weekends. Keep an eye on their social media for event dates and locations., Trays are also available for party hire at $35 per tray.
www.facebook.com/MessyMonkeysNZ
Born to Play
Running Tuesdays from 10.30-11.30am at St Albans Uniting Parish, Born to Play is a unique free-play session that invites you to sign up for the entire term or attend casually. Combining sensory and messy play in exciting, whimsical weekly themes, each session also has plenty of larger and adventurous equipment to explore (slides, climbing frames, tunnels, balance boards etc) to help work on those fine motor skills. Tickets will need to be purchased ahead of time as sessions fill up fast. 15 per ticket, per session.
www.instagram.com/borntoplay_christchurch
The Buddy Zone
The Buddy Zone offers 1-1 and group sensory programmes for children with behaviour, social and academic needs. Run by an experienced Behaviour Consultant and Senior Therapist, ‘Crew‘ lessons cater to those aged five to eighteen years old, and are hosted in age-appropriate sessions., Its newly introduced ‘Mini Zone‘ is a one-hour sensory exploratory class for neurodivergent and neuro-typical toddlers, designed to stimulate and engage senses such as touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell. Running over a nine-week term, the Mini Zone is currently held on Fridays from 10-30-11.30am for those 2-4 years old.
The Buddy Zone, 38B Birmingham Drive, Middleton, Christchurch, www.thebuddyzone.com
Baby Sensory and Toddler Sense
Offering baby sensory classes from birth to 13 months and toddler-specific classes up to four years, Baby Sensory and Toddler Sense classes are held across the city and run for an hour. Sign up for a term of check out one of their pop-up sessions in North Canterbury. Each session is teacher-led, themed and developmentally targeted, depending only on your child’s age. Expect lots of singing, music, adventure play and sensory items such as lights, bubbles and interactive props. Weekend sessions are also held to celebrate special occasions such as Christmas, so if you’re unable to commit to a term, make sure to look out for these as they offer more opportunities for caregivers to bond with their children.
Baby Sensory and Toddler Sense, 462 Tuam Street, Christchurch, www.toddlersense.co.nz/christchurch
Southern Centre Sensory Experience
Located upstairs at Pioneer Recreation and Sports Centre, this multi-sensory experience is available to book in 30-minute slots and is open to people of all ages and abilities. Children can interact with the smell machine, bubble column, shadow wall and more – all aimed at stimulating an individual’s sense through smell, touch, light and sound. Priced at $12 per person, bookings are essential and fill up extremely fast! To make a booking email [email protected].
Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre, 75 Lyttelton Street, Somerfield, Christchurch, www.recandsport.ccc.govt.nz/play-sport/southern-centre-multi-sensory-experience
Sensory Time Swimming
Open for children of four months to four years old, Sensory Time at Selwyn Aquatic Centre in Rolleston is held weekly on Tuesdays from 9am to 10.45am. This drop-in class is a chance for little ones to explore the water at their own pace, interacting with bubbles, balls and sensory activities in the pool each session. A swim school teacher is on hand to assist your child., Sensory Time costs $3.80 for a preschooler and caregiver ticket.
Selwyn Aquatic Centre, 71 Broadlands Drive, Rolleston, www.selwyn.govt.nz/recreation-And-facilities/recreation-And-sport/selwyn-aquatic-centre
Tiny Toy Shop Heuristic Play Classes
Held on Tuesdays at The Arts Cente, Tiny Toy Shop’s Heuristic Play Classes cater from birth to eight months and from eight months to thirty months. Each class has been designed to be interactive, social, and structured to form bonds between parent and child using open-ended play. The nine-week programme runs each term and costs $200.
Tiny Toy Shop, 2 Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch, www.tinytoyshop.nz
Tactile Tamariki
Brought to life by two ECE Selwyn-based mums, Tactile Tamariki strives to create a sensory learning environment for little ones to explore at their speed. Check their social media for more information on their themed pop-up sessions held throughout the year. Tickets cost $15 per child.
www.instagram.com/tactile_tamariki
