Fun Ways for Kids to Play in Mud

Icky, sticky, gooey, stinky mud is one of the most amazing sensory tools you will find. When we were kids, our parents would send us out to get covered in the stuff. We loved it and it provided
us with the sensory stimulation we needed. This summer, I dare you to put the kids in old clothes and take them out to play in the mud. Just think, you can use all that time you saved making a
sensory bin to hose them off before tossing the kids in the bathtub.

I know letting go of the cleanliness can be hard, but this summer let’s bring back play and make childhood fun again. Giving your child the chance to make messy memories is good for them and the cranky neighbor next door is just gonna have to get used to seeing dirty kids with these Fun Ways for Kids to Play in Mud.

Fun Ways for Kids to Play in Mud

Make mud pies. You know it was the first thing you thought of when I said play with mud, right? Why is that? Because you still think back fondly to spending hours in the backyard building mud
pies in your mom’s old cake pan or the sifter that came with your pail that never really sifted much of anything.

Give your child a chance to climb into a pile of mud, roll around, and feel it squish between their toes. Life is short and you don’t want them to miss out on that, do you?

Build a garden. While this one is actually productive, it is still play. As you prep a new garden bed hose the bed down and have the kids help mix your compost right in. They get messy and sticky fun and you get well mixed soil. Just be sure to not add too much water or you risk creating a not so fun to dig in brick for your garden bed.

Turn nice thick mud into play dough. Encourage your child to create something new and fun. When they are done,  let it dry out and put it on display in their own mud play area. When the rain comes  again, your child will have fresh mud to start over.

Add fun items to the mud. From large buttons and marbles, to globs of glitter, pull out odds and ends and let your kids go wild creating all sorts of fun “treats” in their own little mud kitchen. The
possibilities are endless! Instead of building a sensory bin, take all that fun stuff out into the yard it can all be washed later.

Make a mud pit. If you don’t want a mud station in the back yard, why not build your own mud pit in a kiddie pool? Fill it up and let the kids roll around and have fun becoming a muddy
mess worthy of the family photo album. Are you feeling brave?  How about a mud fight?

Jump in with them. Kids love when mom or dad spends time playing with them. Put on your swimsuit and put your hair up in a bun and go have fun. You may look a little silly, but your kids will love it and you will leave them with great summer memories with their parents.

More Outdoor Summer Fun for Kids:

7 Ways for Kids to Explore Nature this Summer

Fun Outdoor Physical Activities for Kids

25 Outdoor Rainy Day Activities for Kids

Tips for Going on a Nature Walk with Kids