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Make · Wild and Tumble activity

Rolling mud balls

Roll it, pat it, make it shine. Turn a handful of mud into a smooth, round ball.

  • 15 min total
  • Messy fun
  • Ages 3–5*
  • Outdoors
  • Any season
Let's do this

*Illustrative age guidance. Your child's development and circumstances matter more than a number.

A tiny plan for your day

Estimated time: 3 min to prepare · 10 min to roll · 2 min to tidy. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • Damp, sticky mud, stones picked out
  • A little dry soil or sand, in a pot
  • A tray to rest your mud balls on

Let's begin

Five simple steps

That's the whole activity. Tick each step off as you go, and stop whenever you like.

  1. Scoop up a handful of mud and squeeze out any extra water.

  2. Roll it between both hands into a ball.

  3. Sprinkle a little dry soil on top and roll gently again.

  4. Keep patting and rolling. Does it start to look smooth?

  5. Line them up on the tray to dry.

All done!

That's every step. However it went, you made a little moment together.

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