Becoming 'WildlifeGran' has been the most wonderful experience. For anyone who has become a grandparent, you will know the joy of watching your child morph into a mum or dad and it is so special to spend time with this new little life, especially introducing them to the great outdoors!
My daughter loves spending time outside, so Ella has been out and about from when she was just a few days old. Spending time outside is so important for us all and especially young children. Ella is 18 months old. Outdoor play allows her to run, jump, climb, and explore, helping build gross and fine motor skills and strengthening muscles and bones. Many children , even from a young age, spend a lot of time watching TV or tablets, when they should be moving and in fresh air.
As you would expect, I am a firm believer in spending as much time outside as is possible! When I was expecting a visit from the family for a long weekend, I started a project I had been wanted to do ever since she was born.... to build a mud kitchen!
Being out in the garden, she could make as much mess as she wanted I added all sorts of different materials to offer opportunities for sensory exploration, motor skill development and creative play. It has been proven that being outside, surrounded by green spaces and nature has a calming effect and helps reduce stress and anxiety. Exposure to sunlight and fresh air can also improve mood and cheer us up. Physical activity combined with natural light exposure during the day can help regulate children's circadian rhythms, leading to better, more restful sleep at night. I find it frightening how many children spend very little time outdoors and, during my many years as a teacher, was amazed at how little experience many children had had of being outside and getting dirty. Simple outdoor activities and walks can bring so many benefits to a young, growing body and mind.
It is actually relatively simple and cheap to build a mud kitchen. I used a single pallet and some wood I already head, to create the legs. I added a selection of recycled containers that I had collected over the previous weeks and filled a plant pot tray with soil, sand, gravel, wood chippings and sawdust. I added a sink and water dispenser and some measuring spoons. wonderful addiction was old teabags. I had seen the suggestion online. They were wonderful and she loved breaking them up and mixing the tea up with other materials.
This video shows how I built it and how much fun Ella had playing with it. She spent time there for the three days they were here, mostly unaided. That free, explorative play is so important for young minds. You could almost hear the cogs turning as she experimented with the different materials and moved items from one place to another.
When she was finished, I scooped everything into the bowl and popped it on the compost heap! If you have young children or grandchildren, I really thoroughly recommend a mud kitchen... us adults enjoyed it too!
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