Oh the joys of mud!

I don’t think many would disagree with me in saying that children have always been magnets to mud, puddles and dirt! Mixing mud, water, and other natural materials like pebbles, leaves, and grass, provides children with endless possibilities for learning and fun. I am sure I am not the only one to have fond memories of creating mud pies, digging for ‘treasures’, or making a right mess of my clothes when I was younger, although I always had to change out of my school uniform immediately before playing out- anyone else have to do that as a kid? I didn’t understand as a child, now as a mummy, I TOTALLY GET IT!

But it’s not just about ‘fun’ and ‘mess’. Children benefit from messy, muddy play!

Since becoming a Mummy, I spend a lot more time outside than I used to, that’s for sure. Harry has spent many, many happy hours outside playing, be it in mud, sand, water, grass… it doesn’t matter, he LOVES it!

So, why a mud kitchen?

Many sources both online and within educational literature state many, many benefits to having a Mud Kitchen play space at home, nursery or any other alternative EYFS settings.

Benefits such as;

• Good mental health, freedom to be children, exploring outdoors and PLAYING freely!
• Good physical health- recent studies have shown we absolutely NEED to have dirt in our systems in order to develop a healthy immune system. Indeed the lack of interaction with mud is causing deficiencies and weaker immune systems in kids worldwide.
• Allowing curiosity, exploration and experimentation in an open-ended way
• Mathematical opportunities for measuring, filling and emptying and exploring capacity
• Endless imaginative and role play possibilities starting with a blank play space structure which isn’t too prescribed in its usage and allows kids to create in any way that suits their play
• Language development through descriptive words, scientific questioning and exploration, and storytelling through imaginative role play
• Rich and genuine messy, sensory experiences through combination of natural materials
• Scientific investigation as materials are combined, mixed, transferred and changed
• Fine motor skills development through use of real tools in play situations

Harry’s Little Town Grey Wooden Mud Kitchen

Harry was extremely lucky to get this lovely little wooden Mud Kitchen from his Grandma for Easter. He’s plays with it both inside with legos and other toys, and outside with mud, soil etc. It has provided a lot of entertainment for him and it will grow with his imagination as he gets older too!

This little gem is from Aldi UK and is advertised as follows;

‘Introduce your children to gardening with the Little Town Grey Wooden Mud Kitchen. With space for them to grown herbs and plants of their own, along with a hob, sinks and chalkboards, your little ones will be serving up the best mud pies in town!

Package inculdes;

• 1 x Kitchen
• 1 x Tray
• 4 x Plant Pots
• 2 x Chalkboards
• 2 x Sinks
• 2 x Hobs
• 7 x Pegs
• 1 x Deep Pan
• 1 x Pan
• 1 x Lid
• 3 x Utensils

Features

• Designed to inspire imagination and creativity
• Provides an immersive, multi-sensory experience
• Encourages little green fingers to flourish
• Includes two sinks and two hobs
• Mini chalkboards to write the menu on
• Pegs to hang utensils
• Plant pots slot into the flower garden shelf at the top
• Great place to grow herbs and other plants

Like i’ve said, Harry has had so much fun with this already and it has been super quick and easy to wipe/hose down- I’d highly recommend it!