Playing with mud quickly sparks children's imagination, which means you need very little to organize a fun activity. With sand and water, you can go a long way! You can organize fun activities such as: a mud bath, mud treasure hunts, walking along a barefoot path, and baking sand cakes.
Why is playing with mud good for children?
Playing outside with sand, soil and water helps children to:
- build up their (mental) resilience and immune system;
- discover and experiment;
- work together and come up with solutions themselves;
- develop greater self-confidence and resilience;
- exercise and use all their senses;
- deal with minor risks and new experiences.
Mud Day is a free, ready-to-use children's event that lets children discover nature in a playful way.
Registration
Childcare centers, schools and after-school care centers can register for Mud Day 2026 with IVN. They will then receive:
- a step-by-step plan for organizing their Mud Day;
- inspiring activity sheets with mud games, suitable for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and children up to twelve years old;
- a printable certificate for children who took part in Mud Day;
- sample communications about their Mud Day, such as a news item and social media posts;
- tips for communicating with parents about the importance of playing in mud;
- a spot on the map showing Mud Day activities.
You can register for Mud Day 2026 here.