25 min
Shadow Drawing
Stand a toy in the sun and draw around its shadow.
🥣
Mud Kitchen
Old pans, a bucket of soil, some water, and no rules at all.
Messy, outdoor, entirely open-ended, and children return to it for years.
What you need
- old saucepans and spoons
- a bucket of soil
- water
- leaves and petals
How to do it
- Find a corner of the garden you do not mind being churned up.
- Put out old pans, a wooden spoon, and a bowl.
- Add a bucket of soil and a small watering can of water.
- Say nothing about what to make.
- Leave it set up so they can return to it another day.
Why this is good for them
Mixing, pouring and testing consistency is early experimentation, and the absence of a correct outcome is what makes children stay with it so long. Outdoor soil play also has documented benefits for immune development.
Adapting by age
2 to 3 yearsA shallow tray of soil rather than a whole corner.
8 to 12 yearsChallenge them to make a mixture that holds a shape when turned out.
Keep it safe
Use clean garden soil, not compost with fertiliser. Avoid areas cats use. Wash hands thoroughly afterwards, and cover any cuts.
Cleanup tip
Strip at the back door and put clothes straight in the machine.
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Tape a huge sheet of paper to the floor and let them draw on their hands and knees.
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Find a smooth stone, paint it, leave it somewhere for a stranger.
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Coloured water in a spray bottle and a garden full of blank canvas.