Nursery World - Nursery Equipment: Mud Kitchens

The use of mud kitchens in nurseries’ outdoor spaces has spread significantly since the concept was popularised a few years ago, but children will only get the most out of them if they are regularly reviewed. Nicole Weinstein finds advice for settings, whether they are updating or starting from scratch

Mud kitchens have caught the imagination of practitioners and parents alike. The Mud Kitchen Facebook page, which was set up in 2013, showcases hundreds of examples of the rich learning that’s taking place as children engage with nature and concoct new potions in their outdoor kitchens. Not only is the range and individuality of the kitchens impressive – they are made from anything from wooden pallets to converted baby-changing tables – but also the ways in which the practice is evolving.

Jan White, an independent early childhood consultant specialising in outdoor play, and co-author of the Making a Mud Kitchen booklet, says, ‘We’re in the early days of this next phase of development – and it’s exciting. Since the launch of the booklet with Liz Knowles of Muddyfaces in 2012, I am thrilled that so many settings have a mud kitchen as part of their core provision. In fact, I think the introduction of the mud kitchen has been a gateway to people understanding what outdoor play is all about.

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