Why mud is great for kids

As the snow melts and spring finally makes her long awaited debut, perhaps you remember how much fun playing in the muck was, as a kid? 

Well, depending on where you were brought up, you might not!

Spanning the spectrum of possibility, if you were raised in a city apartment, you might never have had the opportunity. Whereas, if you were raised on a family farm, you likely had tons!

Interestingly enough, the latter option may have provided you with far more beneficial exposures than you might realize. And the former? Well, read on.

Urban vs Rural environments

The average North American child spends a staggering 7-hours a day or more in front of a screen, compared to the 4 to 7 minutes a day spent playing outside. 

This is especially concerning considering that more than 50 per cent of the world’s population currently lives in urban areas, with a large portion moving in that direction as these numbers are projected to rise another 20 per cent by 2050.

That makes changing the way we all live our lives incredibly important for our future generations’ minds, bodies, and spirits. 

And all it takes is for us to make the shift to getting outdoors more often, and bringing our children along for the adventure.

Happy kiddos play outside

Children who play outdoors are happier, healthier, and less anxious than children who don’t. 

Studies prove that children who are raised in rural settings are more capable of dealing with stress, and far less likely to be anxious or depressed than their urban counterparts. This is because children who are given ample opportunity to play in nature experience far less structured play thereby invite creative, confidence boosting, and emotional regulation experiences into their small worlds more often on average than indoor dwelling city-slickers. 

These experiences greatly enhance a child’s perception of self-worth that only increases with time, as they mature. 

Healthy babies play in dirt

Beyond just getting outside more often, letting children get dirty is significantly beneficial on many levels. 

Splashing in puddles and playing in mud, which is something so many children are drawn to do, is exactly the recipe for a happy, healthy immune system.

Research shows that playing in mud is even good for babies under the age of one! 

Early exposure to “friendly” microorganisms, or “old friends” helps prevent many all too common modern ailments, such as allergies, asthma, and obesity. Playing in dirt is the best way to introduce these. 

Alternatively, being raised in a very clean home, and playing on squeaky clean playgrounds are actually proven to increase the risk of illnesses, much like not exercising increases the risk of injury. 

So, remember, the great outdoors are “great” for a reason. 

Even walking in the rain has been proven to calm your mind and body thanks to the amazing effects of petrichor: the smell of damp soil. 

And after the beautiful rain falls, getting outside and playing in the mud with your kiddos could be one of your new favourite future memories. 

So don’t just wait for the sun to come out! 

If we, as adults, are able to help shift the future landscape for our youth by making small changes in our family lives, like taking walks in nature more regularly, and taking time to garden even a small plot with our children, we will help pave a better future for them.