If you want to encourage your little ones to put down the screens and get some sunshine, then a mud kitchen might do the trick.
A mud kitchen is an outdoor pretend play cooking area, which includes everything your child needs to create the most daring culinary delights — all from your backyard. Yes, you read that right. Let their imagination run wild with a simple setup with a sink, bowls, utensils, and plenty of mud!
The best thing about a mud kitchen is that it can be super simple or more on the fancy side. Whichever option you want to go with, we’ve got heaps of ideas to help you help your little ones turn into culinary geniuses in no time.
Ready to be inspired? Read on for our best tips, and bring on the mud!
1. Rustic style
If you have a rustic home, you might want a rustic mud kitchen to match. If you enjoy DIY projects, this might be the perfect weekend project to make for your little ones.
2. Colourful toy ingredients
Want to keep your kids familiar with the variety of ingredients they’ll need to cook? Soft toys that closely resemble fruits or veggies will go a long way. If you’re worried about them getting dirty, opt for hard plastics instead of plush.
3. Electric stove toy
Want to create an upgraded mud kitchen? Opt for a toy that mimics a stove top you might have in your kitchen.
4. Stainless steel toys
Looking for easy-to-clean, long-lasting mud kitchen toys? Opt for stainless steel materials when selecting your child’s toys.
5. Colourful kitchen tools
Bring some life to the mud kitchen with colourful tools your kids can use.
6. All timber
Want something affordable and low-maintenance? All timber mud kitchens are a great alternative. If you’re fond of DIY projects, you can work on this as a project.
7. Colourful tables and chairs
Want your kids to stay true to the essence of playing with a mud kitchen? Designate a space for them with tables and chairs outdoors to get creative.
8. Handmade clay toys
You can also let them get crafty without actually using mud. Clay works as a great hands-on material to work with.
9. Let them get dirty!
Mud kitchens are meant to be dirty to help familiarise your kids with food preparation and outdoor play. Let them use various things found outdoors, like pebbles and stones with their toys.
10. Fresh greens over the kitchen
Give your kids a feel for fresh greens by adding plants over the mud kitchen as herbs for their little setup.
11. Kitchen by the garden
Want to involve your kids more with growing real plants or vegetables? Situate the kitchen just by your garden and let them try simple activities like watering plants as part of their play.
12. Involve actual planting
If their hands are already dirty, why not teach them to plant? It’s a great way to teach them the plant’s life cycle when growing food!
13. Interactive toy food
Keep your kids safe from hurting themselves with interactive toy food. This can look like toys they can split apart easily to learn different ways of slicing with knives — minus using an actual blade, of course.
14. Mini kitchen tools
Let your little one experience the joy of cooking by giving them smaller versions of your everyday kitchen tools.
15. Old kitchen tools
If you’ve got kitchen equipment you no longer use, adding them to the mud kitchen is a great way to give new life to them.
16. Sophisticated kitchen
Let your kids feel all grown up, like a real cook. Opt for wooden toys and jars, and line them up neatly. Give them the challenge of putting everything back neatly after play!
17. Chalkboard for kitchen signs
Allow your little ones to create their menu and set up their restaurant after their whole cooking experience. Colourful chalk will guarantee to get them excited to use the signboard!
18. Chalk on the pavement
An alternative to using chalk is creating a mud kitchen on the pavement. Let your kids’ imaginations run wild by designing their space from scratch.
19. Stylish kitchenette
Make it even more fun for your kids by investing in a kitchen set that comes in their favourite colour. You’ll see them playing make-believe in no time.
20. Stove topped with pots
Want to keep your child’s kitchen simple but plenty of fun? Pots are a great way to make the most out of a single tool. They can toss in as many ingredients as they can fit into it to make a stew or even a magic potion!
Mud kitchens are always a good idea to get your kids used to exploring and playing outside without wandering too far away from home. You can give your little ones a great mud kitchen in many ways – from creating one from scratch to selecting one that suits their preferences. We hope you’ve found inspiration in these playful ideas.
