A selection of treated wood (quantity will depend upon the size of the mud kitchen you plan to make) Sliding Surfaces Sliding drawers and play surfaces are also a fantastic feature. They allow more room to play by extending the kitchen surface. This makes them more suitable for multiple children to use. Sliding surfaces allow for the product to adopt a more compact size when the product is not in use. Many units will also hide the sink of the product when the panel is retracted which discourages children from using it when playtime is over. Your child may have siblings or friends over to play with the kitchen so make sure you take the time to give this some thought. Mud kitchens are a great way of encouraging imaginative play in your kids. We have mud kitchens with working taps & sinks, our splash & play range. This range comes with their very own mud kitchen water dispensers & a working tap, adding extra play value. We have small mud kitchens for toddlers and larger garden mud kitchens for older children. Our mud kitchens come with pots & pans as accessories for little chefs looking to create messy mud masterpieces. Cooking Area The basic areas such as the hob cooking surface are also an important consideration. Generally you will have two rings on your hob as standard with a small surface area to place objects on. However larger products will feature four rings - giving lots more surface area to have lots of different containers on the rings at once.

Key specs: Size: H x 105; W x 93.5; D x 52.5 cm | Material: Untreated wood | Accessories included: 8 stainless steel utensils | Age suitability: Three years and over | Assembly time: One hour plus What we love: Mud kitchens aren't just fun, they're super beneficial for little ones too. The experts at Mud Kitchens reveal why: Water Features Quality mud kitchens will come with a working tap which you can connect to your garden hose. It is also great if it features a separate water dispenser and basin. The use of water in your play sessions is really important, so make sure these parts are substantial. Ideally the tap needs to be made of brass or a similar durable material. These flexible areas offer children sensory, imaginative play that supports their development and learning throughout their childhood. Playing with a mud kitchen helps children connect with nature, and all that mixing and potion making is great for scientific exploration. Plus being outdoors is enormously good for children’s wellbeing and all-around health.A mud kitchen is essentially about cooking up grubby fun. Your kids can sauté leaves, oven-bake mud pies and wash up after your garden gnomes have devoured the meal.

Elevates mood: Mud kitchen play increases the levels of serotonin in our brains, helping us to relax and feel soothed and calm, they say. Plus, fresh air and Vitamin D (obtained through being exposed to sunlight) are both great for boosting the spirits.Age suitability: Most mud kitchens are suitable from three years of age, though a few come without accessories that suggest it would be ok from 18 months. Look at the height measurement in the product dimensions to ensure it will suit each of your children. Research has proven that playing in the mud can make you happy. LiveScience.com reported on a study by the University of Bristol, which showed that 'exposure to friendly soil bacteria could improve your mood by boosting the immune system just as effectively as antidepressant drugs'. There is also additional evidence that microscopic bacteria in mud can increase serotonin levels in our brains – the chemical that helps us relax. Key specs: Size: 160 x 66 x 116cm| Material: Wood | Accessories included: Stainless steel pots and pans; gardening tools; perspex screen; glass pens; wind chimes | Age suitability: Three years and over | Assembly time: Unspecified What we love: Imaginative play has the benefits of fostering creativity by allowing children to act out situations they wouldn’t be able to in real life (not just yet anyway!) Once the two end pieces are complete, attach the floor and table boards between the two and screw them into place.

Chat to your child about what they'd like to see in their mud kitchen but remember they can add their own extras and that's all part of the creative play. The best mud kitchen for your family will very much depend on your requirements, however, for its high quality, versatility, substantial size and range of accessories included, we feel the TP Muddy Madness is the best mud kitchen you can buy today. Whether you’re buying for a single child or for siblings to share together, this mud kitchen offers great value for money and is built to last the test of time. How we chose our recommendations Recommendations from real Mumsnet users Plus, it being in the garden allows kids the freedom to make a mess and it doesn't matter as much as it does inside the house. How much does a mud kitchen cost?

Toyrific Playhouse Marvellous Mud Kitchen

The Chad Valley Wooden Mud Kitchen is an attractive toy with rustic styling and thoughtful features. It has two small metal sinks that can be removed easily for draining and cleaning and are great for two children playing together side by side. Dimensions: 43 x 96 x 108; Material: Wood; Age range: Unspecified What to look for when choosing a mud kitchen? There are lots of different kitchens to choose from at varying price points - we've rounded up 13 of the best mud kitchens for kids available to buy now. Best mud kitchens at a glance Crafted from FSC-certified wood and built to last, this mud kitchen doesn’t come cheap, but we think it’s well worth the money. Easy to assemble, thanks to clear and concise instructions, your child’s new toy will be up and ready to play with within just a couple of hours. If you’re limited on space in your garden, this wall-mounted ‘bolt-on’ makes a great alternative to a free-standing mud kitchen. It comes with a starter set full of pans and a whisk, so your kids can get creative straight away. The water butt and large sink are also ideal for washing and rinsing away.