Interesting info. :)
In my childhood we had no computers and phones, and I spent a lot of time outside, playing in the mud with other kids, building something from it. It was fuuunnn!
Children Who Play With Mud and Sand Grow Up Stronger and Healthier, According to Studies
Many of us can recall fond memories of our childhood when we’d find creative ways to play with mud. These same people may also have unpleasant memories of their parents reproaching them for being covered in dirt. But to be honest, those parents already knew that their kids were bound to get dirty. Let’s just say it: getting dirty is fun!
Many children are disconnected from nature today.
It’s normal for parents to be concerned about their kids’ hygiene and safety. Some may prefer that they play at home rather than in open spaces. Based on this, author Richard Louv interviewed around 3,000 families, and after having several conversations with children, he concluded that many don’t actually want to play in open spaces these days. They prefer to be at home, entertained by technology. “Our children and the children of our children are the generations that are more disconnected from nature in history,” he states with concern.
A little bit of dirt never hurt anyone.
Both Louv and pediatrician Maria Júlia Carvalho insist that children need to be in touch with microorganisms that are found in the soil and grass to help develop their immune systems properly. Maybe cleaning up after a muddy mess is a pain, but finding the middle ground between fun and excess is something parents need to start thinking about. These kinds of unhygienic games are necessary.
It’s the same with pets.
According to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, children who live and grow up with pets like dogs and cats from an early age are less inclined to develop allergies. These children live among constant levels of endotoxins, a type of bacteria present in dust and the environment which ends up strengthening their immune system.
This is how our immune system works.
According to the definition provided by the health system for children known as KidsHealth, the immune system is what ultimately protects people from external invaders such as germs and bacteria that could threaten their health. It accomplishes this by detecting substances that can generate disease and infection and then fighting against them.
But for this attack to be successful, the system needs to adapt to microorganisms from the outside. As children grow, they start becoming more resistant to certain germs. This happens because they have already been exposed to them, and their immune systems already know the invaders and how to attack them.
The consequences of keeping kids away from open spaces
Without coming into contact with microorganisms, the immune system becomes more vulnerable to substances that shouldn’t be pathological, like pollen or animal hair that cause kids to develop allergies. Richard Louv says that depriving children of interactions with nature limits the development of their creativity. Kids who don’t come in contact with their environment lack physical stimuli and have no direct experiences to build on.
He also adds that the physical activity that kids engage in while outside is a healthy precaution against obesity. In fact, obesity affects a large portion of the child population because of all the time spent behind closed doors. For this reason, he explains that the lack of playtime outside is a risk to their psychophysical health.
Do you let your children play with sand and mud, or do you prefer that they engage in activities at home? Tell us a funny memory from your childhood where you played with mud or sand!
Comments

Related Reads
My Sister-in-Law Secretly Performed a DNA Test on My Toddler

18 People Who Uncovered Shocking Things They Weren’t Supposed to Know

15+ Parents Who Know Firsthand That Children Are Not a Beautiful Picture but Hard Work

I Refuse to Pay My Daughter’s College Tuition — Her Stepdad Is a Millionaire

12 People Who Accidentally Found Hidden Cameras in Places Where They Shouldn’t Be

16 Stories From People Who Had a Funny Experience With a Rich Person

15 People Who Can Participate in “Fear Factor” After Having Guests in Their House

10+ Crazy Real-Life Stories With More Twists and Turns Than a Movie

15 Stories That Have More Unexpected Twists Than a Hollywood Blockbuster

My Baby Cries Hysterically Every Time My Mother-in-Law Is Around — I Finally Discovered Why

12 People Who Could’ve Never Imagined What Was Coming Next

15 People Whose Dating Life Is Crazier Than Any TV Show
