Muddy preschoolers will get messy this Friday at Eastern

Annual Fun Mud Day returns to University's on-campus preschool

by Michael Rouleau

Willimantic, CT (04/29/2026) — Preschool children from the Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) at Eastern Connecticut State University will get down and dirty at Eastern's annual Fun Mud Day this Friday, May 1, rain or shine, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Dozens of children and their families will navigate a muddy obstacle course at the on-campus preschool's outdoor playground.

Led by Eastern students studying physical education and early childhood education, Fun Mud Day is meant to develop gross motor skills and resilience among the children enrolled at the CFDRC, who will splash and play in a muddy, wet playground with many parents participating in the muddy mess as well.

"Fun Mud Day is such a great opportunity for children and their families to take risks," said Niloufar Rezai, CFDRC director. "The children are able to have fun while exercising and getting dirty, fostering social-emotional development and feeling confident when they accomplish feats that they didn't think they could."

Now in its 12th year, Fun Mud Day has become the CFDRC's most anticipated annual event. Physical education Professor Darren Robert has spearheaded the event over the years, whose students design and implement Fun Mud Day as a hands-on, joyful physical activity experience.

"What I am sure you will see are fun-loving and hard-working teachers, friendly families, and very happy, muddy children!" said Robert.

Besides being fun for children, the day has benefits for the students as well, said Rezai. "Our students are able to learn about gross motor development and child development and get practice meeting and accommodating children at their different skill levels."

###

Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

Media Attachments