Create a Backyard Mud Kitchen for Your Kids This Spring
As the ground outside begins to melt and we urge our children to return to their normal outdoor activities, it may be time to teach them the most important sensory activity in nature – mud cooking.
Katie Lear, a licensed counselor and play therapist in North Carolina, eloquently explains to her father why mud kitchens are so good for kids:
This may be partly due to the fact that the mud kitchen fully engages the senses, Lear says. “Playing with mud is an exciting experience that helps kids really focus on what’s going on with their five senses: mud can be cool in temperature; he has a distinct sensation; smells earthy; it makes a lot of noise. Many mindfulness practices promote attunement to the senses as a way to stay in the present moment. When you think about sensory play through this lens, it’s really quite difficult. “
What you need
When creating your own mud kitchen, you can use it as simple (some dirt, water and a bucket) or as unusual (like a real “mud kitchen” you can buy ) however you like. But somewhere in between these two options is probably the most appropriate. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Flat surface
To make real mud food, kids need a surface to sit or stand on while working. If you don’t want to jump into this literally messy kitchen I got in touch with (I don’t blame you), you can find a used home play kitchen in your area that can find a second life as an outdoor mud kitchen. … But in fact, any flat surface you don’t mind getting dirty will do, including a smooth plywood slab on the ground or on a picnic table.
Mud and water
You obviously need two key ingredients for mud, so choose your mud kitchen location based on its proximity to the part of your backyard that you don’t mind your kids digging into. They will also need easy access to water, so if you can set them up in a location where they can easily drag a hose or have access to another source of water, this will work best. If this is not possible, be prepared to pour in several buckets of water.
Tableware
Kids will need tools to help hold, stir, and serve their masterpieces out of the mud, so take out any old measuring cups, spoons, plates, pots or pans you can donate to charity. They won’t pick and choose, so get creative; even an old frisbee can serve as a plate or pan for a pie.
Storage
I doubt you’ll want to lug around all those dirty things every time they finish “cooking,” so look for an outdoor storage solution. If they have a real play kitchen, chances are they already have built-in shelves or storage cabinets. If not, the solution can be as simple as pulling out an old plastic storage box that serves as their kitchen cabinet. hidden in a shed or back porch when not in use.
If you are worried about clutter, you can also choose some special clothing for playing in the mud, or keep a few old towels on hand to dry when ready.
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