Reasons Why You Should Let Your Kid Get ‘Dirty’

Parents don't let their children pay in mud, soil or dirt because they don't want them to get sick or poisoned. The focus on hyper cleanliness might seem like a good thing but new research supports that contact with dirt is good for young children. Here are five reasons why you should allow your child to play in the dirt every now and then: 
Research supports that dirt is not harmful but rather good for the body

Have you stopped your toddler millions of times from putting dirty things in their mouth? Jane Brody from The New York Times states that there is an evolutionary reason for such a common behavior, which science supports. This evolutionary reason is defined as 'hygiene hypothesis.' According to researchers, soil contains bacteria, viruses and worms that are important for the development of a healthy immune system. Dr Graham Rook, a professor at the Centre for Clinical Microbiology at the University College London, said that tiny organisms have been present with us since the beginning of humanity. These bugs had to be tolerated, thus they activated the tolerance level of our immune system.

Dirt stimulates our brain 
Mycobacterium vaccae is a bacterium found naturally in the soil. Sage Colleges in Troy, New York conducted a study and discovered that this bacterium increases learning and brightens our moods. How? It stimulates neuron growth and raises the serotonin levels in our body. Another research discovered that mice that were fed M.vaccae were less prone to anxiety and were able to navigate the maze faster than the control mice.

It is good for your skin 
A study conducted in 2009 found that a certain bacterium on our skin helps combat inflammation. This bacterium is known as staphylococci. It reduces the impact of overactive immune system so you won't suffer from painful or swollen rashes

Exposure to dirt helps the body fight allergies and asthma 
Researchers from Harvard Medical School studied two groups of mice. One group of mice was raised in a clean germ-free environment, while the other group was exposed to microbes. These mice were studied for a period of time. Studies found that mice exposed to microbes had lower numbers of inflammatory immune cells in the colon and lungs. This means that they were at lesser risk of contracting asthma and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Children who don't play outdoor suffer from "Nature Deficit Disorder" 
In the book "Last Child in the Woods", Richard Louv writes that the new generation of children suffers from "Nature Deficit Disorder." They are involved in solitary activities like playing videogames. They don't involve themselves with group and outdoor activities. Older generations used to socialize more with their peers because they loved exploring Mother Nature's wonder. Therefore, the writer believes that this change will impact the children's mental, spiritual and physical health.

Next time you stop your child from playing outdoors, think again! Dirt will clearly benefit your children rather than causing damage to them. Just make sure they always wash their hands after returning from outdoor playtimes.

Yahoo Shine