A Mud Kitchen Club for Very Young Children (18-36 Months)
A joyful mud kitchen club where toddlers mix, mash, splash, and play—building early math, science, art, and language skills through sensory wonder, messy fun, and barefoot discovery. We start with a story & song, then dig right in! Join us!
Ms. Jane
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(1)
New on Outschool
What's included
1 live meeting
20 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
US Grade Preschool - Kindergarten
Together Time (ages 1-2)
In this club, we wonder and we wiggle—through joyful play and muddy adventures in nature! Toddlers scoop, splash, pour, and pretend their way through rich sensory experiences that build brains, bodies, and confidence. Every mud pie and puddle stomp is more than fun—it’s movement, mindfulness, and early learning in action. Outdoors, we follow curiosity, feel the textures of the earth, and move the way little bodies are meant to move: freely, fully, and with joy. Here in this fun club of Wonder & Wiggles, play is health, nature is our classroom, and every messy moment is packed with magic. Each time we meet, learners join together in class to move, imagine, build, and grow through a new theme inspired by nature, stories, and real-world wonder. While we often use a mud kitchen setup, we also explore a wide variety of rotating sensory materials like water, sand, herbs, flowers, kitchen scraps, and natural loose parts. The focus is on child-led play, open-ended creation, and meaningful connection. 🎨 It’s Not Just Mud—It’s a Whole World of Sensory Play While mud often takes center stage, each class may include: ~Water – Pouring, floating, freezing, bubbling ~Sand & Dirt – Digging, shaping, layering ~Leaves, Rocks & Sticks – Building, counting, designing ~Herbs & Flowers – Potion-making, sorting, mashing ~Recycled Materials – Scooping, funneling, engineering ~Ice & Bubbles – Exploring contrast and change ~Play Dough & Nature Dough – Sculpting and imprinting ~These materials spark inquiry, imagination, and real-world learning. 🧠 What We Learn (Without Even Trying!) Through storytelling and sensory play, your child will build: ~STEAM Skills – Engineering, measuring, comparing, experimenting ~Language & Literacy – Storytelling, naming, sequencing ~Motor Development – Scooping, stirring, shaping, pouring ~Executive Function – Planning, flexibility, problem-solving ~Emotional Growth – Resilience, confidence, joy, reflection ~Imagination & Creativity – Open-ended thinking and self-expression ~Nature Connection – Sensory integration and real-world awareness ~This is a whole-child experience—designed to support growth in body, mind, and spirit. 🧺 What to Bring You don’t need anything fancy! A little prep and a lot of imagination go a long way. 🗓 Mud Kitchen Club – 8 Week Theme Plan (18–36 Months) ⇢ Week of May 13: Mix & Mash Scoop, pour, and mash mud, water, and nature bits—perfect for early sensory play and building hand strength. ⇢ Week of May 20: Flower Potions Collect petals, leaves, and herbs to stir, pour, and mix magical muddy potions. A fragrant, colorful sensory delight! ⇢ Week of May 27: Nature Soup Make a “soup” with sticks, stones, and garden finds. Practice scooping, ladling, and storytelling through pretend play. ⇢ Week of June 3: Muddy Bakery Shape pretend cookies and cakes using muffin tins and natural “decorations.” Great for creative play and fine motor skills. ⇢ Week of June 10: Tea Party Time Pouring practice at its best! Set the table with muddy tea and nature sprinkles. Toddlers love to serve and share. ⇢ Week of June 17: Washing Day! Clean-up is the play! Wash babies, animals, dishes, or hands. Water play builds coordination and joy. ⇢ Week of June 24: Dirt Dough Day Mix up a batch of dirt dough (mud + flour or coffee grounds) and roll, shape, and squish your way into sensory fun. ⇢ Anytime/Bonus Week: Pies & Potions Celebration! Combine all the fun—pies, potions, soups, and more! Celebrate with a muddy masterpiece and photo-worthy pretend feast. Suggested materials: ~A mud kitchen space (patio table, bin of dirt or water, or nature play area) ~Loose parts (cups, bowls, spoons, rocks, leaves, recycled tools) ~Crayons or markers and paper for planning ~Towels and water for cleanup ~Your child’s sense of wonder, curiosity, and love of imaginative & messy PLAY! ⏳ Class Flow – What to Expect Each Week As soon as you enroll, you’ll receive a friendly welcome message from me with a quick look at the plan for our session—so you and your little one can prepare with ease and excitement! Each 30-minute class follows a gentle, playful rhythm that builds confidence, curiosity, and creativity: 🔆 1. Welcome & Movement Chant We begin with a joyful greeting and a playful chant to get bodies moving and minds ready to explore. 📖 2. Story Spark or Visual Prompt A beautiful book, image, or nature-based provocation inspires the week’s theme—igniting imagination and wonder. 📝 3. Planning Time Children are invited to help gather any additional materials they'll need—building early executive function and creative confidence. 🎨 4. Play & Create Time Kids dig in! They mix potions, bake mud muffins, build leaf forts, or serve up imaginary picnics using materials from nature and home. 🗣️ 5. Sharing & Reflection Learners and parents/caregivers are invited to share their creations and process, building language, pride, and connection. 🎶 6. Goodbye Ritual We close with a fun goodbye, optional "play invitation" for the week, and a reminder that real learning is joyfully messy. 🧼 What About Clean-Up? Clean-up is part of the learning experience—but for young children, it’s also a skill in progress. With practice...and this club...clean up skills with grow.... SO FAST! :-) 🧡 What to do when our class session ends Keep Playing! Play, Play & Play More. Your child may have only just begun exploring the materials by the time our session ends. It is very common for children to engage in this type of sensory play for hours! YaY! 🌸 The magic doesn’t end when class does—your child can keep exploring all day and all week long. These same materials can be reused, reimagined, and rebuilt until our next club meeting. The longer they play, the deeper the learning (and the more fun you’ll all have). Let the mud sit—there’s more magic to come! In this fun Mud Kitchen Club, play isn’t just an activity—it’s a foundation for lifelong health. When toddlers scoop, pour, mash, and explore, they’re doing more than having fun. They’re regulating stress, developing coordination, building strength, and connecting joyfully to their bodies through natural movement. And when that play happens in nature—with soil, water, leaves, and light—the benefits deepen. The outdoor world invites wonder at every turn, offering endless opportunities to stimulate the senses, build resilience, and spark curiosity. Mud kitchens aren’t just messy fun—they're spaces where children learn to trust themselves, move freely, and discover that their bodies are built for play, for presence, and for connection with the natural world. This class blends sensory exploration, movement, and nature-based learning to support your child’s development in the most organic, joyful way possible—right from the start. 💬 Why Take a Mud Kitchen Class Instead of Just Playing in the Yard? Sure—mud is free, and play can happen anywhere. But this class turns everyday mud play into something much more meaningful: 🌿 Purposeful Play with Development in Mind Each week’s activities are carefully designed to support early childhood development—from fine motor skills and coordination to sensory integration and early language. I structure the experience to meet toddlers where they are and stretch their learning just enough. 👩🏫 Guidance from an Experienced Early Educator With 30 years of experience, I don’t just let toddlers play—I know how to watch, wonder, and guide their curiosity into powerful learning moments. You’ll leave each class with a new lens on how to support your child’s growth through nature-based play. 👶 Connection with Your Child Together Time is exactly that—together. I’ll help you tune in, slow down, and engage in your child’s play in ways that build trust, joy, and connection. You’ll also walk away with language, prompts, and playful ideas to keep the magic going all week long. 🪄 Fresh Ideas & Weekly Inspiration Even the most creative parents sometimes run out of steam. These classes keep things fresh, offer gentle structure, and introduce new ways to use everyday materials in meaningful, exciting ways—without overcomplicating the play. 💬 Community & Conversation You’re not alone on this journey. Join a group of like-minded caregivers who also value sensory-rich, outdoor play. Share wins, ask questions, and grow together.
Learning Goals
Build foundational STEAM skills
Through play, kids naturally practice measuring, comparing, predicting, designing, and experimenting—laying the groundwork for real-world science, math, and engineering thinking.Strengthen communication and storytelling
Children will grow their vocabulary, sequencing, and self-expression by sharing their ideas, creations, and muddy masterpieces with pride.
Other Details
Learning Needs
This class welcomes all kinds of learners with hands-on play, gentle rhythms, and joyful mess-making. Kids explore, create, and grow through movement, imagination, and open-ended fun—no pressure, just wonder at their own pace.
Parental Guidance
I'm absolutely thrilled that Outschool is now offering Together Time classes for toddlers ages 12–36 months with parents & caregivers! This new format is a beautiful opportunity for you and your little one to learn, laugh, and grow together in a supportive, playful environment. These early years are filled with wonder, and by participating side-by-side, you'll not only support your child's development but also create cherished memories. I'm honored to guide you both through this joyful journey of discovery.
1️⃣ Set Up the Play Space Together
~Children this age will need active help setting up their sensory or mud kitchen space.
~Choose a safe, washable area indoors or outdoors where mess is welcome.
~Gather and set out materials together—bowls, spoons, natural items (like leaves, flowers, pebbles), mud, or sensory fillers (rice, water, sand, etc.).
~Be ready to supervise water and small tools for safety.
💡 Pro Tip: Use a washable mat or tub to help contain mess. Keep towels nearby!
2️⃣ Be a Co-Explorer
~Sit nearby or play alongside your child, especially at the beginning.
~Offer gentle narration or wonder-filled questions:
~"What do you think would happen if we added water to that?”
~“What are you cooking today? Can I place an order?”
~Support fine motor tasks like scooping, pouring, or cutting soft herbs.
🧠 You are modeling curiosity and creativity. Your engagement helps them build focus, vocabulary, and confidence.
3️⃣ Support Language & Emotional Growth
~Encourage your child to talk about what they’re making or how things feel.
~Use rich, descriptive language and ask simple reflective questions:
~“What does it smell like?”
~“What was your favorite part of today’s potion play?”
~Validate their feelings during play. If they get frustrated, help them name the feeling and try a new approach.
4️⃣ Encourage Autonomy—but Expect to Help :-)
~Let your child lead, make their own “recipes,” and explore freely.
~Offer choices when possible: “Do you want to make soup or a smoothie today?”
~Give space for repetition—they may do the same activity over and over as part of their developmental process.
🌀 The goal is process over product. There is no “right” way to play here.
5️⃣ 🧠 A Quick Note on Class Engagement
During our sensory play sessions, your child might not stay fully focused on the screen—and that’s exactly what we want. This class is designed to spark hands-on, child-led exploration, so it’s natural (and wonderful!) if they become absorbed in their play.
👨👩👧👦 Your Role:
While your child explores, we’d love for you to stay close by to help with:
~Supporting their sensory setup (pouring, wiping, resetting materials)
~Helping your child follow along with a story or prompt if they need guidance
~Listening in or adding to our class discussion now and then (even if your child has their hands in the mud!)
Just your presence—calm, curious, and supportive—makes all the difference.
We welcome joyful interruptions, quiet observation, or shared discoveries.
No pressure. Just play.
You’ll get short, inspiring videos and/or printables to prepare and guide each week’s session.
6️⃣ Clean-Up is a Learning Opportunity
~Clean-up can be tricky at this age—but it’s an important part of the experience.
7️⃣ Capture the Magic
~Take photos or short videos of your child’s creations if they’d like to share.
~Celebrate effort and imagination: “Wow, that looks delicious! Tell me about it.”
📸 Optional: Share photos with me and be prepared to share photos with the club as well--we all gain inspiration from seeing what others have done! We love seeing your child’s creativity in action!
Supply List
🧺 Mud Kitchen & Sensory Play: General Supply List Let’s get set up for a season of wonder, mess, and magical learning! Each week’s materials may vary depending on the focus of the lesson, but here’s a helpful list of general supplies to gather and keep nearby. Don’t worry—you don’t need to buy anything fancy. Most of the best tools can be found in your recycling bin, your kitchen drawer, or even your backyard. 🪑 Essential Set-Up Child-sized table or bench (can be plastic, wood, or even an upside-down bin or crate) Small stool or chair if your child prefers to sit while playing Flat outdoor space that can get messy (patio, grass, or even inside with a tarp or shower curtain underneath) 🧠 The more child-sized the setup, the more independent and confident your little one will feel! 🥄 Basic Kitchen Tools (Kid-Friendly & Real) Mixing bowls (plastic or metal) Wooden spoons, ladles, spatulas Muffin tins, ice cube trays, cupcake liners Funnels, measuring cups, strainers Old pots, pans, baking trays, pie tins ♻️ Gather extras from thrift stores or clean out the “junk drawer.” These don’t need to be perfect—they need to be usable and washable. 🌱 Sensory Ingredients (Rotate Weekly) Mud (garden soil + water = magic!) Sand, rice, beans, lentils, or oats Water (plain or colored with food dye or tea) Natural items: leaves, flowers, sticks, pinecones, pebbles, herbs Scented add-ins: cinnamon sticks, rosemary, orange peels 🌼 Let your child help gather materials. Foraging is learning too! 🧽 Helpful Extras Plastic bin or tub for easy clean-up or water play Spray bottles, squirt bottles, or turkey basters Cookie cutters, jars with lids, old spice containers Recycled containers: yogurt cups, egg cartons, milk jugs Cloths or sponges for wiping up (include your child in this too!) Optional: Apron or smock for your child 🎨 Creative Additions Food coloring or natural dyes (beets, turmeric, etc.) Brushes or sticks for writing/drawing in mud Chalk or washable paint (for themed days) Play dough or clay on dry days 💡 Reminder: Each week will include a suggested supply list based on the activity theme—but flexibility is built into every lesson. Use what you have. Swap out as needed. There’s no “right” way to play—just joyful exploration.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Tennessee Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Education from University of TN, Knoxville
Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from University of TN, Knoxville
An expert mud pie maker? Yes, that’s me.
I’ve made hundreds—maybe thousands over the past 30 years alongside children of all ages, backgrounds, languages and cultures…on 4 continents! So many mud pies!
It hasn't only been mud pies...it's also been....
Water tables bubbling with curiosity
Sand castles built from teamwork and engineering
Nature-based potions made with petals, pine needles, and dandelions
Bins of beans, rice, and oats turned into bakeries, farms, or treasure hunts
Frozen sensory trays thawed with patience and wonder
And messy hands that weren’t just making things—but making meaning.
And it was SO MUCH FUN! And it was SO DIRT CHEAP!
Every single one of these experiences holds rich layers of learning:
🧠 Cognitive growth through science, math, and problem-solving
🧠 Language and literacy through pretend play and storytelling
💪 Motor development and coordination
💛 Emotional regulation and resilience
🌱 Life skills and independence
But it goes deeper than that.
I believe play is health. It’s not separate from it—it’s the foundation. When babies and toddlers scoop, pour, mash, and explore the natural world, they’re doing more than playing—they’re regulating stress, connecting to their bodies, strengthening muscles, developing healthy movement patterns, and building a deep association between joy and motion. This is the beginning of self-awareness, autonomy, and presence—essential building blocks for well-being.
This class combines so much of what I love and believe in:
☀️ Sunshine and nature
🧂 Simple, real experiences
👣 Movement and freedom
🌀 Wonder and exploration
💛 And the quiet but powerful confidence that grows from making something with your own two hands.
I created this class as a way to help give families something beautiful, accessible and affordable—a way to reclaim joyful learning in nature with, literally, DIRT CHEAP materials while playing in nature and learning literally everything under the sun! It's such a fun and natural way to teach and learn! And it's such a great reminder that all the “important stuff” can be taught with a wooden spoon, a bowl of mud, and a little bit of time together.
This isn’t just a sensory class.
It’s a wonder class, a wellness class, a resilience class, and a childhood-rooting class—wrapped in joy and sensory play.
And I’m so honored to share it with you here on Outschool.
Welcome to a little corner of childhood that’s full of wonder and wiggles in the mud kitchen!
We hope you ENROLL today! Reviews
Live Group Class
$12
weekly1x per week
20 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 1-2
1-4 learners per class
