creative
Making a Mud Kitchen
By Jan White
Guidelines for Crea Creating a Mud Kitchen There is little more important in o our physical world than earth and water things, especially when they interact. Mixing and they are truly intriguing things natural materials has a foundational role soil, water and a range of other nat in early childhood which has deep iimportance and endless possibilities learning.The breadth and depth of what for well-being, development and lea children is truly remarkable. these experiences offer young child quite different to a soil digging patch, Mud kitchens provide something q whilst also being much more easily managed. A mud kitchen includes domestic corner and cooking from indoor elements of the much-loved domes enriched through the special nature of being play, which are then hugely enriche outside. Mud kitchens work well all year round, and need to be seen as a off co continuous provision outside. core element nt o cont n inuous provisi
Mud kitchens do not need to be fancy or cost much. There is nothing to beat the simplicity and character of creating your own unique kitchen from scrounged, begged and discovered items. And remember, the best mud kitchens are made in collaboration with the children who will be using them. CHOOSE THE PLACE The kitchen ne need needs edss a handy and ample supply of the basic materials of sand and/ Offering behaviour or mud. Offeri riinngg bboth othh pr ot provides contrast in colour, texture and mixing behaviou possibilities imaginations. Being sand area – and many more po poss ssib ibilitie iess fo forr im imagi inat atio ions ns.. Be B ing situated near the sa and n are or mud patch may give the kitchen more context and meaning, but big pots of these access. th heesse basic materials will also be fine, preferably at floor level for ease of access A water su supply upp pplyy is essential, but it does not need to be in the kitchen or even close-by, clos osee-by by, as children child dreen love to fill containers both large and small to transport across a ross to the kitchen for use. Make su ac sure re hhowever owev ow ever er that there are several types of collecting containers for this activity and an ample (preferably running) wate water source, such as an outdoor tap tap, p, water butt or a large container of water. Plant material ingredient mate tteer al is also an important ingr teri red e ient of a good mud kitchen. Lots of robust, pickable pick ckkab a le plants plaant nts spread around the whole outdoor space are ideal.
Mud kitchens that have walls, fences or other vertical surfaces on one or two sides then have potential for hanging pots and utensils on them or for installing shelving, making it feel more kitchen-like and better to use. A corner also creates room-like enclosure that feels cosy and safe, which research suggests is good at generating dramatic play in young children.
This content and photos are reproduced with permission from the MuddyFaces free resources. The document was written by Jan White (www.janwhitenaturalplay.wordpress.com) and produced by Muddyfaces www.muddyfaces.co.uk Visit these sites for more great resources.