Creating a Mud Kitchen in a Protected Space

Even children of very different ages enjoy the mud kitchen together!

Children learn through their senses. It is so important that we (parents, teachers, and other adults) create environments that provide resources so young children can explore, create, and transform sensory materials. Water and sand are excellent examples of sensory materials for children to play with. Better yet, mixing and transforming dirt and water into mud is even more exciting for children. Above is a picture of my great nephews in the mud kitchen in our backyard, which I created after going to a week-long study tour on ‘nature pedagogy’ with Claire Warden in Scotland. I didn’t want the mud kitchen to be expensive, so everything in the mud kitchen came from a second hand store or was free. I included different types of thongs, hand mixers, chopsticks, utensils for small motor development.  I tried to have all natural materials with very little plastic to make it aesthetically pleasing. The mud kitchen is in the back corner of our yard behind the gazebo. It has a large umbrella over the area for shade and definition. It is a protected space. According to Robin Christie, https://childspace.nz/about-us/, protected spaces are any spaces where children can play without interruption. These spaces don’t have to be large, can be in small corners of a yard or indoor area, and out of the main flow of traffic. They are calming spaces and allow for self-regulation. It allows children to put time and effort into their play. Children will stay engaged longer in a protected space with sensory materials.

The mud kitchen is located in the corner of my yard behind the gazebo and there is a large umbrella to define the space and add shade. This creates a protected space for children to play uninterrupted.

Benefits of Sensory Play

·       It helps to build nerve connections in the brain.

·       It encourages the development of fine and gross motor skills.

·       It supports language development.

·       It encourages 'scientific thinking' and problem solving.

·       It supports cognitive development.

·       It is inclusive - there’s no right or wrong way to engage in sensory-rich play. Sensory activities especially benefit children with special needs, with children learning a second language, and children who enjoy a practical approach to learning.

·       It aids in developing and enhancing memory.

·       Problem-solving, exploration, and creativity are all benefits of sensory activities.

·       Children who are agitated calm down when engaged in sensory play.

·       It assists children in learning differences and attributes.

The joys of a mud kitchen!

What sensory materials do you have readily available? What sensory materials does your child love to experiment with? Where is a place in your indoor or outdoor environment where you can create a protected space for the children in your life? Are there materials that you can mix, and transform into something new? How can you get your child/children involved in creating protected spaces that provide opportunities for sensory experiences?

What sensory materials do you have readily available?

Bonus – Playdough Recipe, don’t buy playdough - make it!

2 cups flour

2 cup water

1 cup salt

1 T oil

2 T cream of tartar

Cook and stir the ingredients constantly in a medium sized sauce pan over medium heat. The dough will get very thick and dry looking and will be hard to stir. Take it out of the pan and let it cool. You can add food coloring of your choice and an extract (orange/almond) if you want the playdough to have a smell (for very young children the smell might give them the urge to eat it although it is not toxic). 

ENJOY!