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There’s no such thing as bad weather- just the wrong gear! And at Spotty Otter, we believe there’s nothing better than a day spent splashing, squelching, and sliding through the mud.

Why Mud Matters
International Mud Day (June 29th) is all about connecting kids to nature in the simplest (and messiest!) way possible. It’s a reminder that childhood should be full of play, freedom, and a good dose of dirt. Mud play encourages creativity, boosts confidence, and supports sensory development — all while delivering pure joy.

10 Mud Day Activity Ideas

1. Mud Kitchen Café

Set up a mud kitchen outdoors with pots, pans, spoons, and old utensils. Let kids "cook" muddy masterpieces — from worm root spaghetti to Petal Stew! 

Bonus: print our FREE Mud Kitchen Recipe Cards (laminated to make them last) with silly “ingredients” like:

• A squirt of puddle water

• Dandelion heads

• Grass clippings for extra flavour! 

• Stir with a stick for 10 seconds!
  
  

2. Muddy Obstacle Course

Design a garden obstacle course with muddy pits to jump over, crawl under ropes, balance on logs, and end with a muddy splash!

3. Mud Treasure Hunt

Hide small natural items (stones, pinecones, shells) in mud-filled tubs or trays and challenge children to find the treasures with their hands — the messier, the better!

4. Mud Painting

Use sticks, leaves, or hands as brushes to create muddy masterpieces on cardboard or large paper taped to a fence. Add natural pigments like crushed berries or petals!

5. Mud Potion Lab

Set up a “potions” table with mud, flower petals, grass, water, glitter, herbs — let kids mix magical concoctions and name them (e.g., “Worm Wriggle Juice” or “Swamp Elixir”).

6. Muddy Animal Tracks

Use toy animal figurines to make prints in a mud patch. Challenge kids to guess which animal made each track — or create a “mud mystery trail” to follow.

7. Mud Sculpting

Encourage kids to sculpt creatures, castles, or mini volcanoes out of thick mud. Add pebbles, sticks, and leaves for texture and decoration.

8. Mud Face Painting

Let the kids (or grown-ups!) paint simple designs on their faces using mud (do a patch test first with sensitive skin). Go tribal, silly, or wild!

9. Puddle Jumping & Splash Zone

Designate an area for puddle play. Add buckets of water, watering cans, or a hose to keep puddles filled. Best played in rain gear — or swimsuits!

10. Mud Bake-Off Challenge

Give each child a set time to create a themed mud dish (e.g., “woodland cake” or “garden stew”) using mud and foraged nature. Judge on creativity and presentation!

Let Kids Be Kids
At Spotty Otter, we’re proud to support fearless, free-range fun. Mud Day is more than just a date on the calendar, it’s a celebration of curiosity, confidence, and carefree outdoor adventure.

So zip up, pull on those boots, and embrace the mess. Because childhood is better with a little (okay, a lot) of mud. 

Tag us in your muddy moments!
@spottyotter | #MudDay #SpottyOtterAdventures