Mud Kitchen | Ana White (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to build a mud kitchen? ›

DIY mud kitchens are awesome but a little overwhelming

If you're looking for something simple, head to your local second-hand shop and buy some big buckets and cooking utensils. Grab some sand and dirt from your local landscaper and your kids will have a blast. This kind of setup will cost no more than $50.

If you'd like to make the roof more watertight for heavier rain showers, try adding a silicone sealant along the grooves of the roof. Do this on the inside of both panels with one that dries clear. This won't affect the look of your playhouse but will give it that extra bit of rain protection.

What age groups benefit the most from Mud Kitchens? Mud Kitchens are a great resource for children aged 1 to 7 years. However, older children are likely to enjoy playing with it too!

You can use almost any type of timber, from standard boards to fence posts, as long as it's treated for outdoor use.

A useful approach for mud kitchens is to supply soil from purchased loam topsoil rather than from gardens or uncovered plant borders (all garden centres sell this; don't try compost as it does not behave sufficiently like soil for satisfactory mud play). Freshly excavated mole hills also supply lovely clean topsoil!

Ideas for making a mud kitchen

Balance a shelf on some round log seats or milk crates. Cut a hole in the shelf for a basin and use a nearby fence to hang utensils on. Reuse an old wooden table or camping table and either put a mixing bowl on top or set one into the table. Use plastic boxes underneath for storage.

Like all interest areas, mud kitchens have some ground rules. In addition to the basics—share, be kind, take turns—a mud kitchen adds: “mud is not for throwing” and “do not eat mud.” The rules should be kept to a minimum and need to be explained before opening the kitchen.

Mud kitchens work well all year round, and need to be seen as a core element of continuous provision outside. The kitchen needs a handy and ample supply of the basic materials of sand and/or mud. Offering both provides contrast in colour, texture and mixing behaviour – and many more possibilities for imaginations.

You will need

Approximately three to four wooden pallets 1200 x 800mm (local businesses are often willing to donated these)

Can mud kitchens stay outside? ›

Yes, our kitchens are built for the great outdoors and made to last. Our mud kitchens are made from quality exterior graded timber that has been specially treated to live outside.

Add a bit of powdered paint or chalk to the mud while you are mixing! I usually like to go for more earthy colors, but adding a large amount of ground up side walk chalk can really make some brilliant recipes! -Bubbling Potions: Bring some science into the Mud Kitchen by making recipes that fizz and bubble!

Mud kitchens are a fantastic way for children to develop their fine motor skills, engage in creative play, explore their surroundings, and enhance their social skills. A mud kitchen is an outdoor structure where children can use kitchen tools to “cook” with mud, sand, and water.

Mud kitchens are outdoor play spaces for kids between the ages of 1 and 7. These setups are for self-directed play like sensory tables at preschools. Mud kitchens help build children's independence and academic skills, cultivate creativity, and could help boost immunity.

Pestle and Mortar (a little one for little hands is great for grinding flowers!) Potato Masher (amazing for squelching mud!) Spatula (an essential kitchen utensils for spreading your mud batter!) Silicon Cup Cake Cases (because they can be left outside in the wet!)

Add in shelves and a cabinet door and the price increases to £115 per unit, and so on. Middle-range kitchens from suppliers like Howdens are achievable for between £5,000 and £15,000, depending on the size and the spec you go for. High-end solutions or anything bespoke are likely to cost £25,000+.

You will need

Approximately three to four wooden pallets 1200 x 800mm (local businesses are often willing to donated these)

We found that making the table a little over 2 feet tall was the perfect height to allow little kids and big kids to play. The back wall of the mud kitchen extends up another 22 inches. We wanted the boards, on the back wall, to have some space but not too much, so we space them an inch apart using one inch spacers.