DIY Mud Kitchen

“…Let us allow children to love the earth, before we ask them to save it.”

David Sobel

I started out this blog wanting it to be a How To for myself and my kids. Basically compiling all that I’ve learned and am learning as I grow our homestead.

Learning to can, cook, grow a garden, grow medicinal plants, water usage, animal husbandry, working with nature to survive and thrive.

But it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And I bet my kids would appreciate seeing something that they only know the finished product, take shape.

Plus we can have a good chuckle over my failures to grow anything but weeds 😂

So we begin, right where I am today.

Do you remember the days of your childhood? Of being lost in the fantasies created outdoors? The ones where a stick wasn’t a stick, it was a wand, a saw, a spoon to stir the soup you made from leaves and berries and ditch water.

In today’s technologically obsessed world kids are losing their connection with nature. Adults are too!

If you’re here reading this I bet you’re feeling the same and are looking for a remedy.

Why a Mud Kitchen

We all know that practical learning experiences are one of the best ways to engage and inspire kids. Through authentic, hands-on experiences, we are able to make meaningful and personal connections to our learning. 

I remember my childhood of playing outside every day. Rain or shine, snow or frostbite. My mom would even lock us out of the house and as a parent now, I GET IT! Four kids 18 months apart, yup, I’d do it too.

Leaf forts, treehouses, hammer and nails, making soup with a tin can and a pair of scissors.

I want my kid to have those memories too.

Surprisingly, one of the reasons kids explore the outdoors less is because of somewhat unsubstantiated safety fears we have as adults.

As a result, each generation has less and less free play in nature than their parents did growing up, and more and more technology use. That which has it’s own safety concerns.

What do you think? I certainly notice it myself. We have a 5 acre property – same as I did growing up – but we restrict what areas our son can explore.

Not the woods like I did. Not the fields like I did. Not the ditches like I did.

I’m reading a book right now called Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Have you read it? If not, I highly recommend it.

Building Your Mud Kitchen

Building a mud kitchen is really quite simple. Your kids may have even done it already!

It doesn’t have to be from mud. It can be any natural medium: sand, rocks, mud, heck mine was clay next to a biffy in the neighbour’s backyard growing up!

It does not need to be Pinterest worthy and in my books, the more mess, the better.

We have this flower bed that’s mainly in shade, and growing, you guessed it; weeds!

For years I’ve wanted to make a mud kitchen for my son. This spring I found an old metal countertop and sink on a FB ad and snagged them up.

So far I’ve built a base for the countertop. The sink I’m mulling over how the support it will work with plumbing.

My husband and I walked the property and agreed this would be an ideal location. Its sheltered, you can’t see it from the driveway (so no messy visual), and it’s close to the house and water source.

Now I dig.

Loose Parts

The fun part about a mud kitchen is the loose parts. These are comprised of kitchen supplies and natural items.

You’ll want to source items that are either wood or metal, definitely staying away from plastic and bright colours, to appeal to the sensory experience.

Items such as bowls, utensils, buckets, strainers, cups, shovels, scales, washboard. The list is up to your imagination.

Use what you have or what you can source for free. We put the call out to family and friends and it’s been a delight the items we’ve received!

Another great source are garage sales or secondhand stores but remember, no need to go overboard. Tin cans and scissors work just fine. There’s also what nature can provide too.

Nature Tools

Nature can provide an abundance of loose parts for creative play. A stick isn’t a stick after all!

Think pinecones, branches, rocks, acorns, leaves, flowers. Kids have fun finding the items that speak to them and will be happy gatherers to stock their kitchen!

Of course a kitchen wouldn’t be a kitchen (or a fun one) without a source of water. Bonus points if its collected rain water.

Kids Wild At Play

You know what was really awesome? As soon as I had a patch of mud cleared out from weeds, my son jumped in and started creating.

He found buckets and filled them with mud, rocks, and weeds I had pulled. Added some toy cars to each and declared it ‘mushtmilk’: A non-dairy alternative milk that needs to be baked for 5 minutes until crisp and then added to strawberries. Sounds delicious!

The instant imagination, storytelling and creativity was astounding. My kid is outside almost every day and to see the level of pure joy on his face as he explained his creation to me – I would make a million more mud kitchens! It was like seeing my childhood unfold through his eyes.

I can’t wait until this bed is completely cleared and the sink set up. I don’t even need to go that far though (but I will because it’s fun!). Just a simple patch of mud to play in was enough to spark that wonderment.

He’s even commandeered a wayward pine close by to be his ‘house’!

The moral of the story – the value isn’t the destination, it’s the journey. Let your kids explore, get dirty, and live with wonderment of nature, not fear.

Make the dang mud kitchen and go show your child how to be wild!