Thursday night the Museum of Children's Art in Oakland is presenting a hands-on workshop for parents with small children: "Ooey Gooey Night: The Making of Creative Messes." From the museum's Web site: "Young children explore the world through their sense of touch. Add to your home art studio by cooking recipes for fun using the treasures of your kitchen pantry. This hands-on evening we will tug, pull, poke and knead to explore the tactile pleasures, and textures of art. You will learn to make play dough, gak, and bread dough." SFist delights in the making of messes, especially when it's sanctioned as part of the creative process. We also recall our mom, now a retired elementary school teacher, once making homemade play dough for her class, and we thought that was pretty damned cool.

The workshop is Thursday night, from 7-8:30 p.m. Cost is $15 (but free for museum members), and free child care is provided. For more information, visit the website or call Arlene Shmaeff, associate director of professional development, at 510 465-8770, ext. 304. The museum is located at 538 Ninth Street in Oakland, between Washington & Clay.