Get Your MUD On!
It’s here! It’s here! International Mud Day, that is. Oh yes, International Mud Day, glorious MUD. Aka, Ultimate Kids’ Day. If you were a young child, wouldn’t you think mud is something to celebrate?
Today isn’t a day to be hesitant about mud. No, instead it’s a day to embrace mud wholeheartedly. To get as muddy as possible. Mud washes off and kids are wash and towel dry. But mud isn’t the only thing to celebrate. Started back in 2008, in Nepal and Australia, the intention of International Mud Day is to give children worldwide a chance to connect with nature outdoors by getting up close and personal with mud.
The formula for creating mud must be hardwired into genes because every child knows dirt and water gives the treasure of mud. Kids find it anywhere, and on every other day of the year, it’s true to Murphy’s Law. That is, the amount of mud kids get on their clothes is directly proportional to how inconvenient it is to get all muddy. But on International Mud Day, they have the ultimate kids’ day, permission to get covered with it, from head to toe.
Special days often have songs, so here is one for kids who might be a little hesitant. With mud on hands, do the actions to these words:
Head and shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head and shoulders, knees and toes,
Smear on some MUD!
Add a few more verses:
Elbows, wrists, hips, and thighs,
Hips and thighs, hips, and thighs,
Elbows, wrists, hips, and thighs,
Smear on some MUD!
Front and back, legs and arms,
Legs and arms, legs and arms,
Front and back, legs and arms
We’re all MUDDY!
Somehow, children’s connection to nature has become an ideal instead of a reality. It’s something we have to plan and organize rather than an ordinary part of their every day. Yet, the connection to nature is something extraordinary to support their very natures for a lifetime—and ours. For this year’s International Mud Day, glorious mud, can you and your child get your mud on?