COLUMBIA — Cosmopolitan Park came alive on Monday evening with parents and children who wanted to get messy.
Sponsored by the Columbia Public Schools' Parents as Teachers, Messy Night exposed children ages three and under to a variety of materials, textures, smells and tastes to help them develop and learn about their senses.
Children were encouraged to dirty up their hands, face, feet, arms and whatever else they could during a one-night chance to have as much fun as possible. Whether it was painting with ketchup and mustard, making mud, lathering up in chocolate pudding or painting their own heads, there were no rules on this night.
The event also provided an environment full of social interaction, but to the children, it was a chance to do the thing that mom and dad really don't want them doing before dinner: getting messy.