Eight Inspiring Elements for Mud Kitchens

We are getting ready to move! We’ll be going from a tiny yard to a decent-sized garden, and I’m so excited. One of the things I’m looking forward to is creating a mud kitchen for the boys. Sensory, open-ended, loose parts play. It’s going to be awesome! I’ve been gathering ideas for a while, and here are some of my favorite ideas that I hope to incorporate.

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Simple Kitchen, Built to Get Dirty

I love that the kitchen is built from loose parts, giving the kids the option for redesigning the space. I also appreciate that this would be quick to put together: no nails needed. Plus, it's not super shiny which says to me 'dirt is welcome here'! — I love that the kitchen is built from loose parts, giving the kids the option for redesigning the space. I also appreciate that this would be quick to put together: no nails needed. Plus, it’s not super shiny which says to me ‘dirt is welcome here’!

Create with your Hands

We stock our children with damaged and old tins, pans, and spoons from our own kitchen. If you’re looking for something child sized, you can pick up a set of kitchen toys from Ikea, or grab a delightful set of bowls and spoons from Etsy (affiliate link).

Photo Credit: MudMamaWV (affiliate link)

An Oven and a Hob

Rounded & Grounded

I love the creative use of pallets in this mud kitchen. It’s just so sturdy! Something like this will hold up for years.

If you’re not able to DIY your mud kitchen, you can look for something already made, like this one with an oven and a hob. (affiliate link).

Photo Credit: Monarch Studio Shop (affiliate link)

Lots and Lots of Loose Parts

So many loose parts, tools and objects to manipulate. I think it is really key to have all of these materials available. The entire post about this mud kitchen is really amazing - you should click through for sure! — So many loose parts, tools and objects to manipulate. I think it is really key to have all of these materials available. The entire post about this mud kitchen is really amazing – you should click through for sure!

ABC Does

My kids are never lacking for loose parts to play with – they always seem to find buckets, sticks, rocks, and leaves to play with. For extra fun, I love the idea of these rocks with food painted on them (referral link). Super durable and inspiring. You could also DIY this if you want to have some fun!

Photo credit: Affinity Stones (referral link)

A Sink with a Working Tap

We plan to reuse the sink and tap from our current kitchen for the mud kitchen. Something like this would work well, we just have to figure out how to hook it up to water.

Grillo Designs

If you don’t have a sink going spare, you can include a place for a tub of some sort. These plans to build your own mud kitchen include that plus a hob and a cupboard . (referral link).

A Place to Mix Concoctions

19284132435_cebb106d90_b — The wheelbarrow is kind of like a giant mixing bowl – plus this version can be moved around the garden.

Build, Sew, Reap

A child sized wheelbarrow is actually the best toy we’ve ever bought our children, hands down. They love using it to work with Dad in the garden, and are constantly using it to move things around and mix concoctions. You can find simple ones from Amazon.