5 STEPS TO MAKE A MUDSLIDE
Grab a buddy and get muddy with our 5-step guide to make a mudslide!
If your little Wildlings have:
- A need for speed
- A desire for dirt
- A habit of throwing themselves down from high places
…then this is for you!
Mudslides are probably the cheapest, dirtiest and best fun you can have with kids.
And it requires so little: a steep/sloping bank, some water and dirt.
That’s it.
Here are 5 easy steps to make your own mudslide:
Step 1: Location, Location, Location
When looking for a mudslide spot, we suggest looking near a creek or body of water. It’s much easier to get water to make mud when there’s water nearby! Look for a sloping bank at about a 45-degree angle, steep enough to pick up some speed but not so steep that it’s a crash landing.
The key part here is dirt – sand is great for lots of things but not so much for a mudslide. If you can, pick a spot where there’s a bit of clay in the soil, that way the mud will be nice and thick and slippery.
It’s also important to consider where the mudslide will end, because our wild sliders can pick up a fair bit of speed. Is there a drop off or a rocky patch or some other hazard at the bottom? Ideally look for a spot where sliders can land in a muddy puddle, grass, or at least knee-deep water – something to cushion the landing.
Check for other hazards like sharp branches sticking out across the slide or glass/sharp rocks in the area. When playing at speeds it’s important to remember that usual hazards become extra hazardous when colliding with them at speed – so do a good risk assessment first. Even better, get the kids involved in this process so you can make agreements about safe conduct on and around the mudslide.
For example:
· Shoes on feet
· Feet first on the way down
· Bums and tums only
For more tips on risk-assessing near creeks and water, check out our complete guide to risky play near water here and here.
We also recommend being prepared for cuts and scrapes, which are the most common injuries on the mudslide. Have a basic first aid kit on hand stocked with bandaids, tissues, and something to clean and soothe minor abrasions.
Step 2: Prepping the mudslide
Look at the plant life in your potential spot – are they natives or weed species? We prefer to give natives a wide berth and keep our mudsliding activities in weed-prone locations. If you’re unsure, you can head to Weeds.org.au or share photos to plant identification groups on Facebook (e.g. Plant Identification Australia) or iNaturalist.
The only downside of mudsliding is that it can contribute to erosion. We’re sensitive to the impact this has on our environment so it’s important to check plant ID’s before taking anything out of the ground or letting little feet trample them.
Once you’ve found a suitable spot away from natives, look for tree roots criss-crossing your slide zone. As the dirt becomes mud and gets washed away on tiny bottoms, tree roots can quickly emerge as an uncomfortable bump on the way down.
Lastly, have a good look at the trees around your spot. Are there any dead trees or limbs hanging overhead that could pose a risk of falling? Ideally, we like to pick a spot with live, healthy trees around so that the roots will hold the bank together. As the mudslide gets worn down, the last thing we want is to destabilise the ground around a dead tree, as that will likely lead to it falling across the space.
Once you’re happy with your spot, clear an area up to 1m wide and approximately 3m long, depending on how big the slope is.
Step 3: What goes down must go… up?
You read that right – once your Wildlings have gone down the mudslide, they’ll want to go back up again! Consider how best to get up to the top of the slide without causing collisions between sliders and climbers.
Although half the fun is trying to get back up a steep, slippery surface, we find there’s usually a lot of traffic on a mudslide once it’s in action. One idea is to tie a rope to a nearby tree to climb up again (if you want to encourage knot-tying skills in your little Wildling check out this resource). Alternatively, use roots as handholds to climb up or designate a less-steep path to get back to the top.
Step 4: M.essy U.nderfoot D.elight
Once you’ve picked your spot, it’s time to get muddy. The main ingredient required now is water.
Useful tip: it’s much easier to mudslide when there’s water falling from the sky! Yep, make friends with the wet weather and get muddy (for more tips on wet weather play see here and here).
Otherwise, if there’s no rain bring along a bucket, watering can, jug, or pots and pans that can be used to pour water down the slide to boost the slip factor. This is when it’s really convenient if your mudslide is by a creek or river, because carrying water up a hill is hard work! And it’s usually a task the littlest Wildlings underestimate. If the weather has been particularly dry then it will take a few loads of water tipped down the slide to get it nice and muddy.
Jugs and watering cans with handles work well because they can be pulled up on a rope from the top, avoiding the slippery trip uphill carrying a sloshing bucket.
Step 5: Slide!
We’re not kidding you when we say mudslides are ENDLESS fun. And there’s something so liberating about getting covered in mud!
Splashing, sloshing, sinking deep,
Mud up to my ankles, oh so steep.
Squishing, squelching, all around,
My boots are heavy, but I am unbound.
I feel the earth between my toes,
As mud oozes up and overflows.
My clothes are filthy, but my heart is light,
As I revel in this mucky delight.
No cares, no worries, no rules to obey,
Just freedom to play and squirm and sway.
The mud may stain and stick for days,
But the memories of fun will forever stay.
There you have it – an easy 5 steps to make a mudslide.
We hope this encourages you to get out and explore your local area for a magical mudslide spot and soak up the sensation of mud between your toes.
We love encouraging kids to explore risky play, so share your mudslide adventures with us on our socials @wildlings_forestschool.
And if you need a little encouragement and support on your journey with risky play, book into one of our programs and join a community of like-minded families putting the dirt back into childhood. Spaces are available in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast here https://www.wildlingsforestschool.com/bookings .
Written by Ellen Nesbitt. Ellen is a nature play advocate and creative writer with a passion for helping families connect with the outdoors. She is dedicated to exploring ways to nurture children's creativity, independence, wellbeing and love for nature.