As kids, we loved getting dirty when playing. Rainy seasons and muddy puddles were our favorites. The splashing and getting all covered in mud gave a thrill that our childhood still preserves in our memories. We were scolded by our parents and yet, come the next showers, we were out in the streets splashing in the mud. Being a parent, we often forget what it is like to be a child. The small joys derived from getting dirty or seeking hidden treasures are locked in some remote corners of the soul. Recent studies have highlighted the numerous benefits of letting kids play in the mud. In fact, you can tag along with your kids and relive some of your childhood days!
The benefits of letting kids play in muddy puddles
Children are naturally inquisitive. They want to explore the world. They want to know what happens when certain actions and letting kids explore helps them have a better overall development. Angela J. Hanscom, a pediatric occupational therapist, has written in her book Balanced and Barefoot about the numerous benefits of letting kids play in the outdoors. This means that your kids are bound to get dirty. Jumping in muddy puddles, climbing trees, and creating a world of their own, they will have precious memories to turn to when the hardships of adulthood come knocking.
Letting your children engage in mud play helps them develop a stronger immune system. Given the times we live in, often kids fall sick easily and it is due to a weaker immune system. When kids play in the mud, they are exposed to various pathogens. This exposure helps them have natural antibodies developed in their system that helps them fight diseases better. In fact, research conducted highlights the fact that kids living in too clean and sterile environments fall sick more often as they grow older.
Playing in mud also strengthens children’s creativity and helps them have a better emotional connection with nature. In the era we live in, the need to stay connected to nature is essential for living a happy life. Having an active imagination and learning to be unbiased and accepting toward others can be taught via mud play. And you thought that muddy puddles were only a bane for your laundry day!
Getting ready for some mud play
Letting your children have fun with mud play can certainly help with character building; you cannot stop thinking about the dirt and the extra hours spent getting the mud stains off the garments. Does this mean you will forego all the benefits of letting your kids enjoy the outdoors to save a few moments of cleaning up mud? Definitely not! When you know that you will go explore the outdoors and will encounter mud, you can always stay well prepared. Here are a few tips to follow:
Get the proper attire — with the fashion industry taking care of all types of attires, finding cool and useful rain boots and clothes will not be difficult. Also have a few old clothes stacked specifically for this purpose.
Always carry an extra bag — when you are going to play in the mud, you need not come home all muddy. While you gear up for the trek, keep extra clothes handy. Once you are set to head home, let your kids change their dirty clothes and collect them in the bag.
Keep a few towels handy — having a few wet wipes and towels handy in these activities will also teach them the habit of staying hygienic and clean. True that mud is beneficial, but not staying clean is also not acceptable.
Keep a drying rack handy — once you reach home, place the muddy clothes on the rack to dry. Removing mud becomes easier when it is dry and you do not have to get the whole dress dirty.
Let your hair down too
As your kids enjoy some splashes here and there or imagine a world in those muddy puddles, you can join in the fun too. Help them imagine a world of their liking, teach them the importance of cooperation, and most importantly, be friends with your kids and just enjoy.
