Is your child playing enough in mud? If no, try considering the following possible benefits of mud playing as revealed by recent science studies.
1. Mud playing can make your child happier.
Let your child “befriend” the happiness bacteria by playing in mud! Recent studies have shown that a dirt bacterium, called Mycobacterium vaccae, increases the levels of seratonin in our brains, helping to relax, soothe and calm. So playing in the mud can indeed uplift the mood.
2. Mud playing can make your healthier.
Research has shown that playing in dirt is actually good for your child’s immune system. So parents, let your kids play hard before you show them where the antibacterial hand wipes are! Help boost your child’s immune system naturally.
“So let your child be a child. Dirt is good. If your child isn’t coming in dirty every day, they’re not doing their job. They’re not building their immunological army. So it’s terribly important.” – Mary Ruebush, the author of Why Dirt Is Good: 5 Ways to Make Germs Your Friends
3. Mud playing connects you with nature.
Help your child connect with the small backyard or the green park across the road. this leads to positive and happy memories, as it is the place to act out make believe worlds. Exploring the nature around the block will surely enrich their minds and souls. Get outdoors for playing!
4. Playing in the mud can make you smarter.
Studies have found that playing in the dirt can make you smarter. The bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae, found in dirt not only makes your child happier but also improves his cognitive functions.
5. Playing in the mud helps children to learn and develop.
Sensory, hands-on play feeds children’s brains. Different ways of playing with mud lead to delightfully sensory experience which can help children to learn and develop.
6. Playing in the mud helps develop positive dispositions.
A mud patch or a mud pie kitchen or any small area set outdoors for mud play can work wonders – acting as a special recreational zone. It’s good to allow your child experience a soothing sensory experience or to play with friends and learn co-operating, communicating, negotiating and sharing.
7. Mud is a wonderful art medium.
Mud can be moulded and decorated in any possible way, and it behaves differently than sand, clay or play dough. Let your child unfold his creativeness from the very beginning and learn in his own special way. For ideas hop on over to The Art of Mud from Artful Adventures.
8. Mud play welcomes all comers.
Mud is such a medium that effectively meets the different needs and interests of different children. A younger child might be right into the sensory experience while older preschoolers are busy making their own cool mud crafts.
9. Playing in the mud encourages creative thinking.
Let your child explore the world and open up his brain-power at the same time. Playing with mud stimulate the brain, and enhances creativity and imagination.
10. Childhood memories.
Have a quick flashback of your own childhood: Any happy memories of playing outside in the mud and the dirt? Right, those are some of the iconic images of almost everyone’s childhood. No doubt, as parents we are trying to create the experiences, the memories and the childhoods of today’s children. So what are we trying to fill in their memories with?
So how can we provide opportunities for kids to play in the mud?