What you need
- Space for your toddler to dig in mud. This could be mud in a tray or container in your garden, or at the park
- Some different sized containers for your toddler to move and transport soil in (things like buckets, plant pots and empty yoghurt pots are ideal)
- A spade or spoon
What to try
- Make a digging area for your toddler. Put some soil in a large tray or clear a patch in the garden.
- Show them how to scoop the mud into a couple of the containers, using hands or a spade.
- Set out the collection of containers – some with mud in and some empty – where your toddler can find them. This can be out of arms reach of the mud, to encourage your toddler to pick the pots up and carry them to their desired location.
- Watch how your toddler moves the pots, do they hold them differently if moving them while they’re full? You could suggest places to put full pots to encourage this.
- Keep a few pots in a bag ready for walks or trips out. When you’re out in the park or woods, find a small space with plenty of mud that can be dug up.
Good to know
If you don’t have access to soil, or it's not a good time to make a mess, you can do this activity without the mud. Provide the different sized containers with toys instead, or even some socks from your clean washing pile.
Your toddler will still have fun transporting toys (or socks) around in buckets and containers, developing their balance and coordination.