Mud Kitchen Book - Background

This initiative has three strands:

1. Developing information and literature:

Jan white is the author of this book and other fantastic resources available on her website http://janwhitenaturalplay.wordpress.com. A PDF version of this book and links to other publications, organisations and individuals promoting the benefits of mud are available on www.muddyfaces.co.uk.

2. Developing a range of resources:

Jan White has designed a Mud Kitchen range where each set is a collection of beautiful items that wonderfully support young children’s natural desires to explore and discover, imagine and create, relate and interact. Each collection has been carefully selected starting from what we know young children want to do and with strong regard for how children’s play and learning is best supported during the early years. To find these collections and many more inspirational and open ended resources visit the Muddy Faces online shop.

3. International Mud Day:

Supporting the World Forum Foundation’s Nature Action Collaborative for Children annual International Mud Day. Which aims to bring together children and early childhood professionals all over the world celebrating nature, outdoors, and mess by getting really muddy. To find out what’s happening in the UK go to www.muddyfaces.co.uk, for an international perspective go to www.world forumfoundation.org

Dedication:

This book is dedicated to all the children who have shown us the deep pleasures of mud play, and to all those practitioners who push the boundaries to enable young children access to the outdoors in an elemental and meaningful way.

Thanks to contributors:

Many thanks to the children, adults and settings who have so generously shared images of their own mud kitchens at work: Carol Duffy – Early Childhood Ireland , Jan White, Jane Wratten & Slinn St STARters, Liz Magraw, Ruth Sharpe & Hind Leys Preschool, Liz Knowles – Muddy Faces, Menna Godfrey & Quackers Preschool Playgroup, Suzanne Scott, Ann Thompson & Sandfield Natural Play Centre, Vanessa Lloyd & Christchurch County Primary School.

Copyright:

Text copyright © Jan White
Photographs copyright: cover image by Carol Duffy, Photographs © Sandfield Natural Play Centre, ©Carol Duffy, ©Jan White, ©Jane Wratten, ©Liz Knowles, ©Mena Godfrey, ©Vanessa Lloyd.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without either permission in writing from the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying.

Disclaimer:

The author and publisher cannot take any responsibility for the use of the ideas and guidance given in this publication. As with any aspect of early years provision, it is always necessary to carry out ongoing risk assessment and management according to the specific children, situation and conditions pertaining.

The information and ideas provided have been created to help increase the understanding and confidence of practitioners aiming to develop mud play and mud kitchens with groups. The author makes no claim that the information in this book is complete. Neither the author nor contributors can accept any legal responsibility for any harm, injury, damage, loss or prosecution resulting from any activities or guidance described