Playing with mud

Who loves to play with mud? I think all kids do.

Whenever DD1 has a chance to go to the backyard, she would always try to make a mud pie or mud cake for her backyard toys. All praise be to Allah SWT, the fenced backyard allows her to have fun with mud without us worrying about her safety.

Growing up in Singapore, my siblings and I rarely had any chance to play with mud because we seldom play outdoors. Instead we play with Plasticine (a form of playdough) and we had lots of fun molding things with it.

According to CommunityPlaythings.com,

'Mud is an art medium, one that we can mold, dry, and decorate. Unlike many other media, mud permits us to make mistakes. We can experiment repeatedly, knowing there is a limitless free supply. One of the most basic elements of the earth, mud allows us to develop an appreciation for the environment as we experience its diversity. As adults we can continue to enjoy the sensory experience of mud through mud baths, mud facials, gardening, and barefoot walks with mud oozing through our toes.'

Here are some items that kids can use to play with mud:

Necessary materials (borrowed, scrounged, donated)

* Cooking appliance—old range or box made into an oven
* Pots, pans, cooking tins
* Large metal or plastic bowls
* Cooking utensils
* Dirt
* Large buckets of water for cleanup
* Pitchers of water for cooking
* Recycled containers to hold spices
* Recycled or found materials representing spices and condiments
* Labeled storage unit (we used milk crates wired together to make shelves)
* Smocks to protect children’s clothing

Materials that enhance the mud center

* Recipe cards, pencils, recipe box
* Tables and plastic tablecloths
* Canisters to hold different kinds of dirt
* Play sink and refrigerator
* Peg-Board for hanging utensils, drainer for dishes
* Sifter, colander
* Towels, dishrags, pot holders