The information in these slides was shared by Pat Carter, Source for Learning Early Childhood Education Team Member, during the Texas Association for the Education of Young children (TX AYEC) Annual Conference in Galveston, TX on October 12, 2018. If allowed, children gravitate to nature. Mud play encourages creativity and its open-ended nature is perfect for the developing brain. This session will equip participants with mud play essentials and provide guidance on the teacher’s unique role in an outdoor environment. - Explore critical issues that deter outdoor play. - Understand the benefits of outdoor play. - Identify your role as a teacher in an outdoor classroom and mud play. - Learn tips to develop a plan for your “mud adventure.”

1. CULTIVATE CREATIVE THINKING:
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES FOR YOUNG
CHILDREN WITH MAGNIFICENT,
Pat Carter, ECE Consultant
The Source for Learning

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3. Understand the
benefits of outdoor
play.
Today’s Objectives
UNDERSTANDEXPLORE
Identify your role as
a teacher in
outdoor classroom
and mud play.
Explore critical
issues that deter
outdoor play.
LEARN
Learn tips to
develop a plan for
your
“Mud Adventure.”
IDENTIFY

4. Critical Issues
Preoccupation with electronics
Perception of outdoors as an unsafe place
Isolation and fear of nature
Epidemic of behavior-modifying drug usage
Reductive approaches to ECE
Resource: Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms, Eric M. Nelson MA

5. Preoccupation with Electronic Media
• Children, 2-5 years of age get
about 32 hours of screen time
per week
• Children, 6-11 years of age
get over 28 hours of screen
time per week.
Resource: Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms, Eric M. Nelson MA

6. Impact of Screen Time on Brain
• Negative impact to their
attention.
• Makes real-life boring.
• Displaces activities such as
reading and playing games.
Pediatrics September 2007, VOLUME 120 / ISSUE 3 Article

7. Perception of Outdoors as
Unsafe!
Parents’ concern for
the safety of their
children.
Playdates,
organized sports,
and tutoring are
becoming the norm.

8. Electronic distraction.
Hearing or watching nature as
disasters.
Isolation & Fear of Nature

9. In 2002, the number of American
children ages 2 to 18 who were
prescribed antidepressant increased
fivefold since 1995.
Behavior Modifying Drug Usage
St. Luke’s Health Initiatives 2006

10. More emphasis on school readiness
Reductive Approaches to ECE

11. Lack of Engagement
Cause and Effect
Interactions

12. Lack of Exercise
 Obesity
 Hinders
physical development
cognitive development
Learning
Psychological well-being

13. Benefits of Outdoor Play
• Children are more active.
• Hands-on learning.
• Opportunity to learn to handle
outdoor risks safely.
• Helps connect with nature.
• Teaches cause and effect.
• Opportunity to grow in all
domains.

14. Your Role AsTheTeacher
 Intervener/adjudicator/protector
 Facilitator
 Provider of information
 Mentor/guide
 Provocateur
 Supporter/supplier

15.  Environment
 Curriculum
 Center Philosophy
 Standards
 Attitudes
 Funding
Factors Affecting the
Outdoor Classroom

16. Mud Play
Adventure

17. Benefits of Mud Play
Encourages creativity
Helps connects with nature
Opportunity to practice fine and
gross motor skills
Increases awareness of the senses
Build problem-solving skills
Opportunity for social
development
Makes one happy!
Build stronger immune system
It’s all about the process!
Opportunity for foundational
learning

18. Create a Mud Patch
•Define the space
•Topsoil
•Tarpaulin
•Water – a vital ingredient!
Populate with Materials
•Children’s gardening tools
•Containers of various shapes and sizes
•Seed pods
•Pebbles/rocks
•Sticks
•Small plastic toys such as insects, reptiles,
cars
Mud Play Essentials
Have Proper
Clothing
•Old clothes
•Shorts and t-shirts
•Rain proof clothing such as
raincoats, rain boots
Engage Families
• Share importance of mud play
• Prepare them for the muddy fact.
• Document and share learning
stories and pictures
• Ease their concerns

19. Supporting Children
with Disabilities.

20. More Ideas

21. Mud Puddles

22. Mud Kitchen

23. Mud Masks

24. Mud Painting

25. Evaluate
Kids loved it!
Babies slept great
that afternoon.
Parents were
pleased with the
activity.
Lots of learning!
Smiles 

26.  Where are we?
 Where do we go from here?
 What would be our initial change?
 How do we get there?
 What we will need to get there?
 When will we know if we succeeded?
 What are the challenges?
Mud Play
Development Plan

27. Remember….

28. Resources
Community Playthings, Mud, Marvelous Mud! By Michelle Rupiper, June 28,
2016.
The Visionary Director, Second Edition, Red Leaf Press, 2010, Carter, M. &
Curtis, D.
Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms: Designing and Implementing Child-
Centered Learning Environments, Nelson, E. 2010.
Web Resources:
https://handsonaswegrow.com/10-benefits-mud-play/
https://www.natureplayqld.org.au/article/why-playing-in-the-mud-is-more-than-just-fun
https://www.unley.sa.gov.au/CityOfUnley/media/CoU-Media-Library/community%20and%20culture/Events/Mud-Play-Benefits-and-Activities.pdf
https://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/work/quality-practice/play/mud-play/

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