Marvellous muddy play!

I still remember making mud pies as a kid and as a teenager I used to go to youth group mud bowls where they would fill a creek with mud and let us all go crazy getting muddy! I love seeing my son now discovering the joy of muddy play, especially with jumping in muddy puddles like Peppa Pig. 🙂

Muddy play has so many benefits for kids, including:

learning and play opportunities with mixing mud and other natural materials like grass, leaves, flowers, sticks and pebbles
encouraging creativity in making mud bricks, dough, food, paint, art, sculptures – the possibilities are endless!
stimulating the immune system, which makes kids physically healthier
increasing seratonin levels in kids’ brains, which makes them mentally healthier and helps them feel calm and relaxed
improving cognitive function
developing social skills through cooperation, negotiation, sharing and working together with others using the mud and other materials and tools
developing maths and science skills as they mix the mud and figure out what and how much they need to add to make their mud creations
being an inclusive activity that kids at all developmental levels can engage with and enjoy, according to what they feel comfortable with
connecting kids with nature, which helps develop an appreciation and care for the environment
creating memories that will stay with them for a lifetime

Article Insert_joy with mud

Source: Community playthings

Mud kitchens are a great way to get kids involved in muddy play combined with pretend kitchen play, as they make their own weird and wonderful concoctions. They are great for kids who may not want to get really muddy and help to contain the muddy mess that they make.

Here are some tips for setting up your own mud kitchen at home:

make sure it’s in a space away from other play equipment and high traffic areas
provide access to plenty of dirt, sand and water, as well as other natural materials like grass, leaves, flowers, sticks and pebbles
include tables/benches at different heights and chairs
use old kitchen sinks and/or buckets for water
have shelves and tubs for storing equipment
provide old pots and pans, cake and muffin tins, bowls, plates, cups and utensils
make sure kids are wearing old clothes that are okay to get muddy

If you need some inspiration, check out these mud kitchen ideas:

DIY outdoor art table and mud kitchen from Rhythms of Play

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