Mud Season

Learn:

The end of winter means many cycles of freezing and thawing as we march towards spring. Once the temps get above 34 degrees F, water molecules in the soil melt and make the ground more fluid. While kids may not care about the science of this, they know that it means the ground is MUDDY!

Many parents (or people with indoor/outdoor pets) dread the mud season for obvious reasons. But there are also many reasons to love mud for its play possibilities. If you can tolerate your child getting muddy, you can dedicate mud clothes and mud tools. By giving them this space, you can invite them to explore, imagine, and create to their heart’s content.

Need more ideas? Head outdoors with any of the following supplies:

• bowls

• spoons

• buckets

• scoops

• sticks

• tree cookies

• table areas

• stones

• wood planks

• bricks

• toy cars or trucks or tractors

• animal figurines

• paintbrushes

Read:

Of course, we need a mud book for the mud season! Check out Mud by Mary Lyn Ray and illustrated by Lauren Stringer. You may even want to go outside with your kids to read this one and breathe in the sweet smell of spring mud.

Do:

On one of these warmer late-winter days, put on your boots and stomp in the mud together! Make tracks or grab any of the play pieces above to explore mud further. Concerned about messiness? Pull on your snowpants - they work just fine as mud pants too!