Director's Corner

Benefits of Mud

Rain, rain, go away, come again another day! How many of you have been singing this song repeatedly over the last month? I know I have. The children, however, have been enjoying the rain at the center. With rain comes MUD! The children love playing in the mud after the rain. As a parent, I know I cringe at the mud at times. But why? Research shows that coming into contact with a certain amount of bacteria is actually good for us as it builds up our immunity. Not to mention, playing in the mud means playing outdoors. So, let’s get out there and get muddy!

There are many more benefits to playing in the mud. First, it encourages creativity for children. I remember when I was young making mud pies and mud milkshakes. Those memories will stay with me for a lifetime. Second, mud play can be soothing and relaxing. How many of you know people who will spend a lot of money to just sit in a mud bath? Sounds enjoyable to me. Thirdly, mud play also provides opportunities for children to problem solve, use their fine and gross motor skills, improve eye/hand coordination, develop their social and emotional skills, encourages literacy skills, and the list goes on and on. Mud play is focused more on the process of playing and not the product. This is what makes mud play so enjoyable for children. They get to explore and create on their own will. Who wouldn’t want to go out and play in the mud?

On June 29th, children and early childhood educators around the world will be celebrating International Mud Day. International Mud Day is a day where we celebrate nature with our youngest learners. Delaware Child Development will be celebrating along with them on June 25th. Our wonderful landscapers have already provided us with a mud pit to enjoy all year long. On June 25th, we will be adding more fun with mud. Please make sure your child has a change of clothes and water shoes so that they can enjoy the mud with us. You are more than welcome to come join in on the fun as well! We will be playing in the mud in the morning after breakfast.

Let’s get MUDDY!

Let me leave you with this quote from Luther Burbank:

"Every child should have mud pies, grasshoppers, water bugs, tadpoles, frogs, mud turtles, wild strawberries, acorns, chestnuts, trees to climb. Brooks to wade…bees, butterflies, various animals to pet, hayfields, pine-cones, rocks to toll, sand, snakes and hornets; any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of…education."