Mud Pie Kitchen benefits for children:
“We found that children had quality outdoor play experiences and enriched developmental opportunities in environments that had the following characteristics: (all of which are created when kids play with Mud Pie Kitchens)

• Provide elements for children to manipulate and make their own (like water, sand, utensils & bowls etc);

• living things (like wood and plants);

• usable in variety of weather

• designed to the scale of the child;

• allow the child’s imagination to shape the play experience; and

• provide areas for children to play alone or in groups.

Benefits of Having a Buddy Bench at Your School or Daycare:
Buddy benches have become popular for schools because they offer valuable benefits to students. A buddy bench on the playground can help:

1. Combat Isolation: A primary goal of a buddy bench is to help kids avoid feeling lonely and isolated at school.

2. Encourage Empathy: Lonely or shy students aren’t the only ones who benefit from a buddy bench. Other children have the responsibility of reaching out to students sitting on the bench. This nudge to play a proactive role in helping their classmates feel welcome and secure can encourage students to develop a better sense of empathy for their peers.

“Mud Pie Kitchens was a BIG hit with our group. Everyone loved the team building aspect, and the give-back of donating the completed kitchens to the YMCA was really uplifting. Thanks for such a great event, and we will certainly be back for more engagement!”

— Vanessa​ Lah, Customer Relationship Manager, Agilyx Group

“Thank you - everyone loved it!!!!!
The Buddy Benches were the best Volunteer/Giveback event we’ve ever had!”

— Yvonne Clarke, Amazon Web Services

“Thanks so much!  The Mud Pie Kitchens team building event was a HUGE success! I heard so many positive comments from people about how much they enjoyed it.  One person said, ‘this is the best staff team building event that we’ve ever had – it really felt like we were doing something positive together and working together as a team’.  We’ll be sure to recommend this to other departments here at the JIBC.”

— Leanne Ross, JIBC, Justice Institute of British Columbia

“On behalf of all of our before/ after school care sites at NSNH (9) I would like to send a huge thank you for the building and donating of the 7 buddy benches. The buddy benches will be used by over 225 children daily. The buddy benches are so much more than furniture. They promote positive play, kindness and support. The children and staff feel so fortunate to receive these. Thank you, thank you.” 

— Lisa Hubbard, Executive Director, North Shore Neighbourhood House