Spotlight on Mud Kitchens for Any Season Even Winter!

By Liz Prior

 

Mud Kitchens in the outdoor classroom environment is so much more than merely playing in the mud; it provides a unique opportunity to teach children about the natural world.

 

Mud Kitchens, also known as outdoor play kitchens, are very popular in early childhood education these days and with good reason. Outdoor play is something that should never go away in the early learning setting.

 

In fact, every Early Childhood Learning Center should have at least one mud kitchen, like one of these mud mixing tables, in the outdoor play area. These mud tables give the children a chance to explore the environment around them using various mediums.

 

Among the many benefits, these mud kitchen tables allow children to use their creativity and develop positive social interactions. At our child care center, some of the children have been pretending to be chefs preparing gourmet meals and others have been architects and builders as they create houses for insects and fairies. Using mud kitchens for outdoor play is more than playing in the mud, it provides an opportunity for dramatic play and some active play, too. The fun and learning never ends with the outdoor classroom!

 

Mud tables for outdoor play in your child care center makes a lot of sense and can be economical. They are durable, functional, and have multiple uses. Made out of eucalyptus wood, Mud Kitchens are beautiful and they allow for more than one child to gather and create. Children will socialize and learn together!

 

The Deluxe Mud Kitchen has shelves for storing various sand and water toys, as well as loose parts such as sticks, leaves, and rocks.

 

These outdoor play tables hold up really well in all the elements. They are great to use with mud, sand, water, and even snow in the winter time! Don't be afraid to take children outdoors in the winter. There's plenty of learning opportunities even when there is snow on the ground.

 

While we primarily use these tables a lot during the summer for waterplay and to keep cool on hot days, they’re equally as fun to use outside in the snow. The children have a lot of fun collecting snow and packing the bowls.

 

These tables are a wonderful and safe addition to any early childhood setting. If you're looking for something to add to your outdoor classroom, consider these mud kitchens.

 

preschool outdoor play in winter with mud kitchens

How do you use mud kitchens in any season?

 

-----

 

Liz Prior is the Owner and Director of The Learning Center (TLC) in Lawrenceville, NJ. As a childcare professional for nearly 30 years, she has facilitated the opening of multiple child care centers nationally. A recipient of the NJ Statewide Coalition for Child Care Professional Development Award, Liz has also served on the board of local NAEYC groups and is a member of the Advisory Council for Becker School Supplies.

The opinions, representations, and statements made within this guest article are those of the author and not of Becker’s School Supplies as a whole. Any copyright remains with the author and any liability with regard to infringement of intellectual property rights remain with them. The company accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or representations.