Children stomp on clay, straw, and water with their feet.
International Mud Day

By Regina Kruse-Özcelik 

Early Birds Istanbul Founder & Author

Did you know that yesterday, June 29, was International Slush Day? We can find everything we need for it here in Istanbul:

  • Water:We use it sparingly.
  • Clean soil:Free of stones or other harmful particles.
  • Straw:In early fall, you can find it at markets and on farms—it's important to plan ahead!
  • Shade:The sun is very intense, so it is important to protect children and yourself from it. A shade canopy or a shady spot is absolutely essential.
  • Plastic sheet:If you don't have a "mud corner" in your garden, it is advisable to limit the activity to a place that is easy to clean up afterwards. A large, tear-resistant plastic sheet is ideal for this.
  • Old clothes:It goes without saying that no one stays clean on Mud Day! Children should always wear comfortable, old clothes to kindergarten. Shorts and a T-shirt are just right for this day.
  • Tub:To save water, a large tub filled with water and a sponge will suffice. Children can use this to clean their hands, legs, and feet themselves. Thorough hand washing with soap should not be forgotten.
  • Information for parents:Of course, the Mud Day celebration should be announced!
A child's drawing of a mud house
Children play with plastic animals in a tub filled with moist clay soil.
A child holds clay mixture in their hands
A child stomps its feet in the damp clay mixture.

Do all children enjoy mud day?

The children's reactions during the mud work vary greatly. Some children want to help right away. As soon as they see the tarpaulin, they pull on the ends to spread it out into a large rectangle. They empty the bags of earth with their hands and pull at the straw bales to remove the stalks. Small buckets are filled with water and carefully carried to the straw pile. As soon as they pour out the water, the children begin to mix the straw, soil, and water mixture with their feet. Their feet sink into the mud, which gets between their little toes and even reaches up to their knees. They take the mud in their hands and feel the sticky, damp, cold mass.

However, not all children feel comfortable with this activity because they are not used to getting dirty. They watch in amazement from a distance as children and their companions work with their feet in the earth, straw, and water. In any case, the adults must participate and be patient. Perhaps at first it is just a small amount of mud in a bucket that the children want to examine first with sticks, then with a finger, and finally with both hands.

The finished, well-trodden straw-earth mixture remains covered on the tarpaulin. We will continue tomorrow, because one mud day is not enough for us! What will we do with this mountain of mud tomorrow? Planning for the new clay house has already begun ... If you would also like to build a clay house, you have come to the right place HERE .