You don’t need anything fancy to make your own outdoor play kitchen. This 5 Minute DIY Mud Kitchen can be set up in your own backyard with nothing more than scrap wood, and kitchen pots from thrift stores. This is an easy way for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy a bit of mud play.
But the best thing is that when your kids get bored of this mud kitchen, it can be disassembled and packed away for another day. Then bring it out again next year for more fun.
Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times. Some of the links provided in this blog are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase.
More DIY Projects to try
Making fun DIY toys for your kids doesn’t have to be difficult. Check out some of these other easy projects that your kids will love playing with once they’re complete.
Materials needed
- A bench
- Pots, pans and bowls
- Mud
- Spoons and serving utensils
How to set up a DIY Mud kitchen in 5 minutes
1. Place an outdoor bench in the play area.
You can use any kind of work surface you have for this outdoor kitchen. I used a garden bench because it:
- Was the perfect height and gave my kids easy access to the mud.
- Is easy to wash down with the garden hose when they’re finished playing
- Was already available.
- Is easy to pack away.
If you already have old furniture at home that you don’t mind getting messy, use it. Your kids will have great fun in their own kitchen and thanks to their amazing pretend play skills, don’t actually care how pretty it looks.
2. Assemble a collection of old pots and pans on your table top.
I love using real pots and pans instead of toy ones in our outdoor sensory activities. My kids just love how they get to use “grown up” pans. I, on the other hand, love how sun safe they are. In the hot Australian sun, plastic toys weaken and break extremely quickly. But real kitchen items are made for heat, and won’t need to be replaced for years to come.
Since these are only for playing with and not cooking, you can get a set of old pots and pans from your local thrift store at a fraction of the price.
3. Gather your mud.
I used my taste safe mud recipe for this activity. I did this because I live in a very sandy place and just can’t make mud with the soil we have. But it’s also a great alternative if you have babies and toddlers who love to put everything in their mouths. This way they still get to engage in messy play, but you don’t have to worry about them eating any of the mud.
You can also gather a collection of natural materials to create the best mud kitchen. Items such as pebbles, sticks and leaves can be a fun part of cooking pretend food.
4. Enjoy Playing
What You’re Learning
Sensory
Like with all sensory bins, this activity provides a lot of sensory input. The mud as well as any sticks, leaves and pebbles you use are all wonderful ways to expose your kids to different textures.
In addition, banging on the pots and pans with the kitchen utensils also makes a lot of noise. This is a great way to help young children explore sensory play that focuses on auditory as well as tactile input.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills refer to the small muscles in the hand and fingers. Developing these skills are important in being able to write when the kids go to school, as well as being able to complete tasks independently. (For example, dressing and feeding themselves).
Scooping, stirring and pouring the mud are all going to help young kids develop:
- Palmar grasp
- Hand-eye coordination
- Dexterity
- Hand strength
Imagination
With their own mud kitchen to play in, young children can engage in imaginative play whenever they want. They can:
- Cook mud pies or mud cakes for their pretend bakery
- Wash dishes in the pretend kitchen sink
- Pretend to be a little chef or waiter working in their own restaurant, taking orders, and making culinary creations.
Are you going to make this 5 minute DIY mud kitchen for your kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.
