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Pre-schoolers will get dirty at Eastern's annual Fun Mud Day on May 5

Willimantic, CT (04/30/2025) — 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 on Monday, May 5.

Dozens of children and their families will develop gross motor skills and resilience as they navigate a muddy obstacle course during two sessions at the on-campus preschool's outdoor playground: 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Led by Eastern students studying physical education and early childhood education, the preschool children will splash and play in a muddy, wet playground at the CFDRC, 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."

Physical education Professor Darren Robert teased that Eastern's President Karim Ismaili, provost, and deans may even join in on the muddy mess. "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."

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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 2024-25 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

A preschooler and Eastern student get wet.

A parent crawls with her son through the mud.

A preschool crawls under a bridge through wet leaves.

Joyful Eastern students are covered in mud.

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