Mud pies aren’t just a mess. They give children a chance to boost sensory development while enjoying the benefits of connecting with the natural world.

What You Need

• A dish you don’t mind getting dirty or a recycled container.
• Dirt
• Water
• Items from nature (leaves, flowers, twigs, pebbles, etc.)

What to Prepare

Head outside and find a good patch of dirt to dig up. Have your water and a container ready to mix in. Now gather your treasures from nature to use as decoration for your pie. The more colors and textures the better.

What to Do

Toss a few handfuls of dirt into your dish. Gradually add water until it reaches a moldable consistency. Use your hands to make a pie shape.

Once it starts to dry, decorate your pie with the things you’ve found in nature. Look around for colorful flowers, twisty twigs, shiny pebbles, and leaves of various shapes and sizes. You may even be able to find some acorns or berries to fill up your pie.

Explore various designs with your leaves and twigs. How many ways can they be arranged? Can you put them into a repeating pattern? How many different materials can be used in your pie? How many shapes and colors can you include?  

Try adding flowers for a pop of color. Create another layer of texture with pebbles. Experiment with different soils. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!