BENEFITS OF PLAYING IN THE DIRT

Did you know that dirt is actually an essential part of childhood? There are so many benefits to playing with dirt and exposing ourselves to all the healthy bacteria that lives in our soil. If you are on the fence when it comes to dirt/mud play, hopefully this post will help you see dirt differently.

In today's world, we are borderline obsessed with disinfecting things. Our homes, our hands, our clothes, our children, and the list goes on. Sanitizers and disinfectants not only kill the bad bacteria, but they also kill the good bacteria which makes up our microbiome. Our microbiomes are the front line against pathogens. When we have healthy microbiomes, our bodies are able to fight off infections and diseases much easier. When we experience an imbalance in our microbiome, we start to notice diseases such as asthma, allergies, eczema, etc.

The beautiful part of all this is our microbiomes are initially established early on in life and can be heavily influenced during early childhood. The "hygiene hypothesis" suggests that early childhood exposure to certain infections and microorganisms (like bacteria, viruses, and parasites) helps train and develop the immune system. Our microbiomes continue to be shaped by our lifestyles, environmental exposures, and diets...AKA, it's never too late to start playing in the dirt!

To put it simply: soil is home to all creatures. Some of the benefits of soil include:

• a healthier immune system

• fewer allergies

• improved mood/reduced stress (yes, dirt makes us happy!!)

• increased sensory development

• improved digestion

• feeling grounded to nature

The good news? Children and clothing are washable. Dirt is free. The benefits are endless.

Here at Gather + Grow we offer various opportunities to play in the dirt/mud which include our beautiful mud kitchen, mud soups, gardening, mud painting, and so much more!

Email us at hello@gatherandgrowwi.com to learn more about our programs and the benefits of outdoor learning!