Mud kitchens are a great way to get kids outside and engaged in creative play. But what do you need? Here are some mud kitchen accessories to get started!
Mud kitchens are all the rage with children – and for good reason! There’s something so inherently fun about getting messy and creative in the backyard. If you’re looking to set up a mud kitchen for your little one, be sure to check out our essential mud kitchen accessories, below. From simple items like buckets and spoons to more elaborate pieces like a pretend oven or sink, we’ve got you covered! So get ready to have some fun – the perfect mud kitchen is waiting for you.
What is a Mud Kitchen?
A mud kitchen is a great way to encourage kids to get outside and explore nature. Mud kitchens are essentially outdoor play kitchens, where kids can pretend to cook with mud and water. They can also use natural materials like sticks, leaves, and rocks to create their own mud pies.
Mud kitchens are a great way to encourage kids to use their imaginations, get dirty, have fun and spend lots of time outside. And best of all, they’re easy to set up and don’t cost much to make.
In fact you can build an awesome outdoor play kitchen for your kids completely from recycled materials.
So if you’re looking for a fun super simple summer activity for your toddler, a mud kitchen might be just what you need.
Not sure how to throw your mud kitchen all together? Check out 12 DIY Mud Kitchen Ideas that are simple and beautiful!
If DIY is not your thing, here are a few of my top picks for a an outdoor play kitchen that’ll only need to assemble with a couple of screws:
These mud kitchens comes with a stove, sink, and oven to get kids cooking and cleaning. Although these are not necessary to have fun, they really bring your kitchen to life.
Now that we have a mud kitchen ready to get, let’s see some of the most loved, used and hence, essential accessories for every mud kitchen.
Essential Mud Kitchen Accessories
A mud kitchen is what you make it, so the accessories are totally up to you. However, there are certain mud kitchen accessories that every mud kitchen should have. Here’s my round up of what I believe makes a truly magical mud kitchen experience:
Mud, Mud, & More Mud
You can’t have a mud kitchen without mud! You can get dirt from your yard or garden, but if you don’t want holes in your yard or to dig up dirt, you can easily buy dirt instead. Topsoil or loam soil works best for a mud kitchen. Since this is for a mud kitchen, get whatever is cheapest. Here are my picks:
Pots & Pans
Pots & pans are really an essential accessory for any mud kitchen. Pots & pans really bring out that creativity so that kids can come up with some exciting recipes. However, it’s important for you to buy equipment that is safe for them to use outside and that will stand the test of time. Here’s some of my picks:
- Melissa & Doug Pots and Pans Set
- IKEA Duktig 5-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
- Mini Stainless Steel Pots and Pans For Kids
Mixing Utensils
Mixing utensils is really where creativity comes into play along with development of those fine motor skills. You want to have a great selection of utensils in your kitchen to really get your kids engaged. Here’s some of my top picks:
- IKEA Duktig 5-Piece Toy Kitchen Utensil Set
- Melissa & Doug Stir and Serving Cooking Utensils
- Heat Resistant Silicone Spatula Set
Mixing Bowls
Pots & pans can work for this, but if you want your little ones to really grasp the idea of cooking, they will need some mixing bowls. I suggest getting both plastic and stainless steel. Here are my picks:
Watering Supplies
Mud play only comes to life with water! Although you could always just use the hose to add water to your dirt, watering dispensers are a great way for little ones to learn how to pour and master those fine motor skills. I suggest a variety of ways for little ones to use water. Here are my top essentials:
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Measuring cups and spoons are a great way for kids to learn while having fun. They can measure and scoop dirt and mud while learning core measurements and core math skills like fractions. You can easily pass down your old measuring cups and spoons, or you can buy some just for outside play. Here are my top picks:
- Rainbow Fraction Measuring Cups
- Mix and Measure Activity Set
- Chef Craft Easy to Read Plastic Measuring Cup Set
Tote or Storage Container
It’s important to teach your kiddos to pick up after themselves. When they are done playing in the mud, encourage them to clean their pots, pans, bowls, and utensils and store them in a tote or storage container. These can also be transformed into a sink or kitchen with a little creativity. Here are a few to choose from:
Gardening Set
With just a few extra tools mud kitchen can be transformed into gardening center! No matter how small your backyard is your little one will be absolutely adore having a gardening set in their mud kitchen. Most of them come with a watering can and a few gardening tools, all of which are super fun and handy in the mud play.
There are also some that include wheel barrow, apron and a spray bottle, so with just one set you’ll have a number of outdoor toys that will be used and loved.
- Kids Gardening Tools – the minimalist set
- Cute Stone Kids Gardening Tool Set With Wheelbarrow
- Born Toys Kids Gardening Tool Set
CHECK ALSO:
16 Best Outdoor Toys For 1-Year Olds
Outdoor Toys For 2-Year Olds & Up {Minimalist & Budget Friendly}
Fun Extras Kids Will Love
If you really want to get creative with the kitchen, you can make it look like a real kitchen with these fun extras! Although they aren’t necessary to have fun in the mud, these extras are sure to spark creativity, and your kids will love them in their kitchen!
Table and Chairs
A table and chair make your kitchen complete. This is a place where kids can put their prepared foods and invite “guests” over for dinner. However, you want to make sure your table and chair will withstand the weather. Here are my top picks for an outdoor table set for kids:
- Ikea Mammut Children’s Table
- Ikea Mammut Children’s Chairs
- Humble Crew Kids Plastic 4-Set
- Little Tikes Fold and Store Picnic Table
Spice Jars
If you use disposable salt & pepper shakers or spice jars, you can hand these down to your kids to use as pretend spices for their foods. Or, you can buy empty shaker spice jars for kids to enjoy in the dirt and mud.
Decor Items
In addition to having fun accessories for kids to get muddy with, you can add little decor pieces to really spice up the area. Decorating a mud kitchen is a great way for kids to model decorating a real kitchen. Here are few decor ideas to consider:
Whether you were building your mud kitchen from scratch or were looking to add a few new accessories, I hope this list of essential mud kitchen accessories has been helpful. With just a few simple additions, your child’s play kitchen can be transformed into a fun and functional learning space for hours of imaginative outdoor play.
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