A mud kitchen provides an incredible opportunity to develop physical skills, language, imaginative play, and encourage social interaction. As well as being a fantastic opportunity to play with mud. So who wouldn't want a mud kitchen!

You will need

Materials:

Approximately three to four wooden pallets 1200 x 800mm (local businesses are often willing to donated these)
Three lengths of wood 1200 x 22 x 100mm
Assorted wood screws
Utensil rack
Utensils
Stainless steel bowl

Tools:

Saw
Jigsaw
Cordless drill / driver
Pencil
Tape measure
Carpenters square
Sand paper
Hammer
Crowbar
Assorted drill bits
Countersink

Safety equipment

Safety glasses
Boots / strong footwear

Warning

The tools used are incredibly dangerous. An experienced adult should undertake all work using power tools. Children should not be left alone with any of the tools or equipment during the construction of this mud kitchen. The materials and equipment used can be very heavy. Children should not undertake any heavy lifting.

Step 1: Make the Frame

Turn one of the wooden pallets upside down, and saw through the two outer wooden slats, as illustrated.

Step 2:

Using the hammer and crowbar, remove the blocks and slats as illustrated.

This pallet will form the main structure of your mud kitchen.

Step 3:

Stand the pallet on its edge. An adult should hold this in place to prevent it falling over.

Step 4:

Using the blocks that were removed in Step 2, place these 420mm from the lowest edge of the pallet, drill, countersink, and screw into position as shown.

Step 5:

Drill, countersink, and screw, one of the 1200mm long pieces of wood to the top face of the two blocks.

Step 6:

Lay down the second pallet, and saw through both sides using the top slat as a guide.

Step 7:

Trim the length of this section with the saw until you have a piece identical to the one illustrated. Follow the wooden blocks as a guide to trim the excess either end.

Another of these pieces should be made from the other end of the second pallet.

Step 8:

Stand these two new sections in front of the main structure of your mud kitchen.

Step 9:

Place the second of the 1200mm long pieces of wood across the top of these uprights; drill, countersink, and screw into position.

Step 10:

Remove some slats from the 3rd pallet, and cut four 460mm lengths.

These should be drilled, countersunk, and screwed to the sides of the mud kitchen as shown.

Step 11:

Place the third 1200mm long piece of wood below the 'splash back' of your mud kitchen. Drill, countersink, and screw into position.

Step 12: Make the Worksurface

Remove more wooden slats from the third / fourth pallet and cut twelve 305mm lengths for the work surface of your mud kitchen. The edges and corners should be sanded with sand paper before fitting.

Drill, countersink, and screw the work surface slats into position.

Step 13: Fit the Sink

To fit the sink. Measure the diameter of your stainless steel bowl, and draw an appropriately sized circle onto the work surface of your mud kitchen. The rim of the bowl should not fit through the hole.

Using a jigsaw cut out the hole, following the pencil mark on the work surface.

Step 14:

Drop the bowl into position in the work surface.

Step 15: Fit a Utensil Rack

Screw the utensil rack into position on the top of the splash back of your mud kitchen.

Step 16:

Stand back and admire your beautiful mud kitchen.

Further ideas

Perhaps you could make two or more of these units to extend the size of your mud kitchen.
Slices of log could be screwed to the top of your work surface to create a hob.
Use an old cabinet or chest of draws to make an oven for your mud kitchen.
Include lots of measuring equipment (scales, measuring jugs) to develop weights, measures, and mathematical skills.

Introduction: Mud Kitchen