Let Your Kids Play in the Soil!

If you’re happy to let your little ones get messy with water, food items, paints, play dough and sand, what about soil? Although letting babies and toddlers play in the dirt may seem a step too far for some parents, letting your kids get dirty is a good idea. You might worry that playing in the earth means your tots are more likely to get poorly, but children who spend more time playing in the garden, woods and other natural spaces are healthier than their peers that who don’t get this exposure.

Soil is teeming with microbes, which is a good thing. Young children need contact with a wide range of micro-organisms to enhance the diversity of their gut flora, which is essential for a strong immune system and good health. The link between exposure to microbes and health relates to the fact that when we don’t challenge our immune systems regularly, our white blood cells start reacting to foods and other things in our environment, such as pollen and animal hair, which gives rise to allergies. Studies back this up, with one example being that kids living on farms are less likely to suffer from allergies or asthma, which is thought to be thanks to the diverse microbes they come into contact with.

Image by ronnieb via morguefile

Encourage your tots to play in the soil, make mud pies and don’t worry if they want to sample some! Just wash their hands with water and soap when they’re finished, so there’s no need to use antibacterial products. Interestingly, research shows that young kids living in homes where bleach is used are more vulnerable to infections, so hold the harsh cleaning products for everyday cleaning.

While you can top up your little one’s gut microbes with probiotic supplements, don’t underestimate the benefits that outdoor play can have, which is one more reason to encourage your kids to spend more time outside.