Don’t Throw Away That Old Chalk! Do This Instead.
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If you’ve got a bucket of broken, crusty sidewalk chalk sitting in your garage from last summer…
Don’t toss it! Turn it into one of the easiest, most magical mud kitchen activities your kids will play with all summer. There are so many beautiful mud kitchen setups online. I love watching the reels of perfectly curated backyard set-ups and I’m always so tempted to buy more fun little add-ins. This is where my mantra, “USE WHAT YOU HAVE” saves me (well, sometimes). Instead of focusing on the getting the exact products, I try to focus on the idea itself and use it to look at what I already have in a new, creative way. I saw one content creator share a link to bags of colorful chalk powder to use in a mud kitchen, and now here we are.
The Chalk Smash Mud Kitchen Activity
Kids can be apart of this activity from start to finish! Yes, it is as simple as it sounds.
Put chalk in a Ziploc bag. We sorted the chalk into like colors, but you do you.
Let Kids Smash It. Give them toy hammers, let them stomp, or hurdle at the ground. Anything that crushes the chalk into powder.
Bring It to the Mud Kitchen. The kids will know what to do.
That chalk powder becomes:
fairy dust
potion ingredients
seasoning to the most delicious mud pie
Add water and it transforms into:
chalk paint
flavors
soup
It’s messy, creative, and completely open-ended.
Tools to Elevate the Play
Okay, so I literally started this post with the “USE WHAT YOU HAVE” mantra. As you browse this section, repeat the mantra as needed. Let this inspire you to look at items in your home a little differently. For example, in our mud kitchen you will see squeeze bottles that I purchased but you will also find a French’s mustard bottle as well. If you aren’t the type to save every empty spice jar, (teach me your ways) I have a links for you below.
Toy Hammers
These have endured lots of use at our parties and have held up very well.
Sidewalk Chalk
In case you already tossed your old stuff!
Squirt Bottles
Once you own a set of squirt bottles, it’s weird how many various uses pop up. This set is a good size for small hands.
Stainless Steel Pots + Pans
This set by Melissa and Doug is a nice size for pretend play. I would also recommend checking your local thrift store!
Frisbees
Frisbees are the BEST for making mud pies! This set has enough for everyone to share.
Kid-Safe Knives & Cutting Boards
This is one I feel like I don’t see in many mud kitchen viral videos. The best part about mud kitchens is giving the kids the opportunity to not only pretend, but practice! These knives and cutting boards will allow them to do just that - practice cutting leaves, stems, and whatever else the backyard has to offer.
Garden Trowels
Mud kitchens need mud, of course! Kids need tools to collect it. We have this set and they are sturdy enough for adults to use as well.
Dried Flowers
Soon enough, there will be plenty of flowers to pick from for mud kitchen play. But in the meantime, dried flowers will make a nice addition to the empty spice jars. Don’t put out all at once!
Metal Watering Pitcher
This is great for practice with pouring and withstanding the outdoor elements.
Final Thought
Mud Kitchens are just a “keep them busy” activity.
It involves:
sensory exploration
fine motor skills
imaginative play
cause-and-effect learning
And it removes the pressure to make things perfect.
The kind that:
slows kids down
sparks creativity
gives you a few quiet moments
That’s a win for everyone. But let’s take that pressure off of ourselves as well. This is our reminder to slow down, use what we have, and keep it simple!
