Mud pie

Mud pies are composed from a mixture of water and soil. Other ingredients are sometimes added to the basic water and soil mixture such as plants and pebbles. The 'pie' will stay together if the mud is sticky – similar to bread dough. In addition to mud pies, children often create other structures like mud sandwiches and mud-based tea parties.[2]

Creating a mud pie can be a very enjoyable activity and is thought to nurture the imagination of a child.[3] Making mud pies allows the exploration of textures, and establishes the basis of scientific reasoning as they change the variables such as the addition of less water or even freezing the mixture. Some children do not enjoy the activity.[4] A child may hesitate to "get dirty."[5]

Many people recall this childhood activity with fondness.[6] An author recounts: "As a child, I was drawn to mud. Some of my fondest childhood memories saw me covered in the stuff, head to toe."[5]

Adult with a mud 'facial'

Digging a small hole, adding water and stirring with a stick is one method used by children to create the mud pie.[7] Some choose to organize a party or event for children with creating mud pies as part of the activities.[8][9] The benefits of making pies out of mud include: strengthening the sense of touch and developing "true" creativity.[10] Some take a more formal approach to the activity and dedicate children's play spaces to the making of mud pies.[11][12] A mud pie kitchen can be created to make other mud play 'food'.[13] A mud center can be created in a school setting.[2] Some teachers are able to incorporate art and music into mud pie-making activities during school.[14]

Other ingredients have been proposed and include:[15]

• sawdust
• eggshells
• orange peel
• crushed leaves
• sand

Washing up afterwards is to be expected.[2][5] Adults can participate in creating mud pies and some continue to use mud as a cosmetic beauty aid, as in facial masque treatments .[2]

Mud play can include the use of mud as an artistic medium.[2][16] Thin mixtures of mud and water can be used as paint and applied to paper with twig 'brushes'. After the mud dries, different areas can demonstrate the different color shades and constituents of the mixture.[13]

Mudfest activity

International Mud Day was established in 2009 by schoolchildren in Australia and Nepal. Schools in many countries organize mud play events. International Mud Month was proposed in 2015.[16][17]

Adults sometimes participate in mud festivals.[18]

Some desserts made out of crushed cookies and other ingredients are called mud pies or puddings.[19]

• Dirt cake, an edible dessert somewhat resembling a mud pie
• Mississippi mud pie, another edible dessert
• Boryeong Mud Festival
• Dorodango, moulding earth and water into polished spheres