Get Ready, Get Set, Get Messy!

It's summer, and for kids that means it's time to get messy! Whether playing in the dirt, digging for treasure or creating concoctions for the family art gallery or lunch... kids’ making messes are  a part of childhood. To satisfy their need to create without wreaking havoc on your home, consider a family-friendly make-a-mess outing where your children can exert some creative energy and leave the mess behind!

Things That Go Splat!

Challenge your kids to a game of paintball at one of Kansas City's numerous paintball fields! 

Messy Masterpieces!

Paint, glitter, glue.... kids love to create their own works of art, but this can often make for unbearable messes at home. Consider a compromise and treat the kids to an outing at Paint, Glaze & Fire (located at the south end of the Metcalf 127 Shopping Center, 913.661.CLAY), where they can paint their own ceramic masterpieces. They'll be able to choose from many pieces from piggy banks to plates, mugs to picture frames, and numerous seasonal pieces, as well. Find many more paint-your-own pottery studios in KC. Another creative option is a visit to a Kansas City classic: Kaleidoscope, our own FREE art center for children. It's difficult to capture the magic of Kaleidoscope in words, but we tell readers that if Willy Wonka had designed an imaginative world where children could create their own masterpieces with a variety of supplies in a magical setting... this is what you would get! Best of all, Kaleidoscope offers FREE walk-in sessions all year. Simply visit www.HallmarkKaleidoscope.com for details.

Wiggly Worms!

Fishing isn't just the stuff of old-fashioned lemonade commercials. For many families, it is the cornerstone of summer memories. The best thing about this mess-making outing is that it can result in a healthy dinner if done right! Load up the rod and reel and grab a few worms (from the backyard or the local bait shop), then head out for a day of fishing and memory making. You’ll discover many great Missouri and Kansas lakes offering the best fishing hole near you.

Funny Faces & Foam Factory!

Paradise Park (1021 NE Colbern Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO, 816.246.5224, http://www.Paradise-Park.com) is a 38,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor family fun extravaganza. The indoor Children's Edutainment Center features hands-on exhibits for younger children with theme-based play that is often messy, but always creative and educational! Your children may paint their own faces, play at the water table, create a masterpiece in the art center or cook up a delicious treat in the kitchen. Older kids will enjoy the outdoor fun of  go-karts, miniature golf and batting cages! And the whole family will relish the indoor fun of bumper cars, a rock climbing wall and arcade. The highlight though, is the Foam Factory, where you can fire foam balls at opponents with air-pressure guns and tubes for a chaotic, but fun experience!

Dig in the Dirt!

What could be messier than good old-fashioned digging in the dirt? Kids love to play in the dirt and now they can play while they're growing their very own garden!  Kansas City is home to several marvelous gardens, including Powell Gardens, the Overland Park Arboretum and the Children's Beanstalk Garden. Each of these facilities offers botanical classes for budding junior gardeners. Whether you visit the gardens for a workshop or simply take a family trip, your kids will love discovering unfamiliar plants. At Powell Gardens, you can look out from the top of a silo onto a quilt square garden full of wonderful edible plants and foods—many that may surprise you—and the annual Butterfly Festival in August is a family tradition. The Monet Garden and Children's Gardens at the Overland Park Arboretum are wonderful for photography and a day of play. And, education abounds at the Beanstalk Children's Garden, where special programs are designed with kids in mind.

Beginning Builders!

Twice a month, kids can participate in the Lowe’s Build and Grow projects, on 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 10:00 to Noon. Kids complete a wooden project (kits provided) and earn a red apron and patch. Or, on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 to Noon, try the Home Depot Kids Workshops for children ages 5-12. Children build a take-home project and receive an orange apron and an achievement pin. Both FREE programs provide the children with a kit to create their own project. Some projects include toolboxes, fire trucks, jewelry boxes, banks, planters, birdhouses and picture frames. Children learn basic carpentry skills and leave with a sense of achievement and a completed project.

Ooey Gooey!

Chip's Chocolate Factory (in Crown Center, 2nd Floor, 2450 Grand Ave., Suite 239, KC, MO, 816.421.0012, www.ChipsChocolateFactory.com) is a treat for the senses! From the delicious aroma of warm chocolate and the tasty samples to the beautiful artistry of fudge makers’ preparing handmade confections in copper kettles and forming it on marble slabs, Chip’s is a delight for all ages. Kansas City Fudge was originally developed by the Chip’s team more than 27 years ago. With a vision for entertaining and educating, the shop was designed for live demonstrations, which are offered daily. Visitors also can schedule a private tour for groups for a full experience in “Chocology,” with tastings and samples. Your children will sport chocolaty smiles and sticky fingers after a visit to Chip's, but the experience is unforgettable fun!

Still looking for more great family fun ideas in Kansas City? Check out our Kansas City Calendar of Events.