Mud has the honor of being one of the best parts of coming to the CEC! Every child gets to experience the feeling of being covered in mud and dirt if they choose. The children of the Bunny group are no exception. Mud is more than just a squishy substance to play in; it also provides the children the opportunity to expand upon their knowledge through their senses and imagination.

“It is such a fun sensory experience for them as they smear and smooth the mud everywhere!” said Lead Teacher Naomi Fox.

This might explain the recent dirt rings around your bathtub after your child’s bath. Mud is squished in hands and stomped through with their tiny feet as the children enjoy the sensations that mud provides. There have been recent sightings of “mud monsters” who get a kick out of roaring at teachers and covering them in mud as well. Mud also becomes a costume that children put on and allows their imagination to run wild. The children will also have mud jumping competitions, jumping as high as possible and creating the biggest, muddiest splashes. Science is also present in this mud madness! As they continuously mix the dirt with the water, they experiment with the ratios of dirt to water and observe as the texture of the mud changes. If either too muddy or too dry, they will add dirt or water to the mixture until they find their desired consistency.

“It’s so fun to watch their creativity and imagination expand day by day as they enjoy the mud,” said Naomi.

The children cook using the mud to create fantastic gourmet meals or cake batter to make birthday cakes for their friends. The children also bring their own culture into the mud kitchen, creating dishes native to their own heritage then sharing them with their friends and teachers. One child made a Korean dish called “Bibimbap,” while another made a Japanese dish called ‘Omu Rice” for the other children to “taste” and try. The children use their fine motor skills to refine each recipe to perfection by using sticks to decorate a cake or dusting the top of their dishes with dirt and leaves. Everything in the outdoor environment becomes a tool to garnish a dish; leaves fallen from a tree or flower buds from plants throughout the yard. As most great chefs do, they utilize every kitchen utensil while making their creations, from serving spoons to muffin tins to pots and pans.

Imaginative play has been a large part of the activities in the mud area for the children. They cooperate with one another as they play House, negotiating the roles they will play in their family. The children will even create a mud home for their family to play in, and sometimes a mud monster will pay a visit! The children also work on their problem-solving skills as they decide what direction the play will take and how long it will last. The next time you pick up your child, you may see evidence of the elusive, but delightful mud monster!