One hundred years ago Soviet psychologist and play theorist, Lev Vygotsky, argued that play was a purposeful activity for children. Vygotsky believed that a child’s greatest achievements were possible in play and that imaginative play, in particular, was an opportunity for children to become adaptive, while problem solving ways to use available resources for their own playful benefit.
I mention this to assure readers that we have over one hundred years of evidence supporting the benefits of imaginative play for healthy child development. It turns out holding space for children to simply muck about in the mud offers a real opportunity to build capacity for creativity and imaginative thinking! Mud play is a simple and low prep way to invite children to creatively and independently explore outdoors while allowing them some space to figure out how to make best use of available resources for play.
This post is about how we can create the conditions for creative and imaginative play supported by the book, Anywhere Artist- If you are interested in research that has supported our understanding of imaginative play, I’ve listed resources at the bottom of this post that may help your self-study.
Imaginative Play: Anywhere Artist with Mud
Necessity is often the mother of invention, and boredom can be a powerful tool for creative and imaginative thinking.
When we talk about preparing invitations for play, we can consider how teachers curate a spark that invites exploration. Our modern world has little patience for boredom, and parents have become accustomed to staving off boredom at any cost for their children. In the school context, invitations for play can offer children a pathway to reclaim that spark of curiosity with just a few simple tools.
While some studies have shown boredom can lead to mindless snacking or reckless behaviours, recent studies have shown that boredom seems to be a critical ingredient in being able to find your own pleasures, passions, and interests on the way to becoming a life-long learner.
It’s a simple equation. Stave off boredom and set children up for creative and imaginative play by taking children outdoors to become anywhere artists! Mud is the perfect boredom buster, and easily accessible in just about every backyard, sidewalk crack, and school garden.
Required Materials for Mud Painting
- dirt
- water
- up cycled plastic tubs or containers (think yoghurt or sour cream tubs)
- paint brushes, or sticks, or broken pencils will do!
- A canvas to paint on: paper, newspaper, cardboard boxes, fences, sidewalks…
Read the Anywhere Artist by Nikki Slade Robinson
Rad aloud wherever you feel most comfortable.
Mud Painting and Mud Play Inspiration
A reminder that mud painting does not have to be pretty! Use old yoghurt tubs and tupperware to mix your dirt, and simply add water for a messy adventure! Paper, sidewalks, fences, boxes, and even the side of your house can be your canvas!
And if you don’t have paint brushes handy, simply use sticks- they are perfect tools for mud painting! Check out how these kids used sticks and mud for imaginative play: anywhere artists in our outdoor classroom!
Become an Anywhere Artist with Loose Parts
Thinking like an Anywhere Artist encourages us to find and make art from just about anything, anywhere! Here are some other ideas to inspire art making in your schoolyard, garden, at the beach, or in the forest:
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I also recommend James Brunt’s work for inspiration as well. If you are on Instagram, he can be found at @jamesbruntartist where he shares out inspiring land art creations.
References and Resources
I am deeply engaged in the theories and research that reinforce and question the significance and importance of unstructured play in healthy child development. Teachers and parents interested in learning more about the benefits of imaginative play cited in this post are encouraged to read the following papers and texts:
Brown, S. (2009). Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul. Avery.
Hakkarainen, P., Brėdikytė, M., Jakkula, K., & Munter, H. (2013). Adult play guidance and children’s play development in a narrative play-world. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal: Promoting Play for a Better Future, 21(2), 213-225. doi:10.1080/1350293X.2013.789189
Mann, S., & Cadman, R. (2014). Does being bored make us more creative? Creativity Research Journal, 26(2), 165-173. doi:10.1080/10400419.2014.901073
Russ, S. W., & PsycBOOKS. (2014;2013;). Pretend play in childhood: Foundation of adult creativity (First ed.). Washington, D.C: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/14282-000
Vygotsky, L.S. (2004). Imagination and creativity in childhood. Journal of Russian & East European Psychology, 42(1), 7-97. doi:10.1080/10610405.2004.11059210
Vygotsky, L. S. (2016). Play and its role in the mental development of the child. International Research in Early Childhood Education, 7(2), 3.
