It’s a question many parents have asked: “Why does my child love to play with dirt?” A clear and simple answer can be: children love how dirty he smells and feels. Another realistic answer could be: children play with dirt because, as an element very close to the composition of their own bodies, they are instinctively attracted to it.

Builds the immune system

Of course, an understandable concern when children play in dirt is health. However, studies show that children who play with dirt are not at greater risk of developing disease than those who do not. Also, it appears that children who play with dirt develop stronger immune systems and resistance to bacteria and viruses. An article published by The Wildlife Federation titled, dirt on dirt, explains that dirt and germs are actually good for kids: “…all those things that make moms reach for hand sanitizer and laundry detergent can, in fact, be a dirty recipe for health.” and happiness.” Of course, we wouldn’t let our children play in dirt at a dog park or anywhere else that poses a danger to children’s health through contaminated animal feces, toxic waste, or any other contaminant. However, if we have access to a backyard or if there is a well-maintained park in our neighborhood, it is perfectly fine to allow children to play in the dirt.

Therapeutic Benefits

Playing with dirt is very therapeutic, similar to the act of gardening. In fact, teaching young children to garden can be a wonderful way to take their explorations with soil to the next level. Both boys and girls equally enjoy playing with the earth. We may have witnessed how much fun boys have picking up dirt and dumping it while roaming the land with bulldozers and dump trucks, or girls playing with a ball while pretending to be mommy; cook everything from mud pies to cookie mash. This form of play is not only safe, but also lends itself to reciprocal socialization as children cooperate with their peers in a non-competitive atmosphere.

Academic Benefits

There are endless possibilities when children play with dirt. Playing in the open nature can have an effect on children’s intellectual orientation, even opening the doors to future academic pursuits. Children’s current interest in the products of the land can literally turn into interests in the fields of biology, ecology and conservation. A research study on environmental education shows how beneficial it is for children to learn about their world in a hands-on way. In her summary, Joanne Glenn (Glenn, J 2000) explains that children learn science doing science. The results of his studies also show that children improve in various academic disciplines when taught in an environment-based classroom. Improvements were recorded in reading and math, science, and social studies scores.

The journey back to nature

It may not be easy to encourage children who have never been out in nature to get dirty. Today’s children are so connected to technology that playing in the dirt may sound like a foreign concept to many of them, especially those who live in urban areas. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods (Louv 2005), explains this as a peculiar phenomenon and has coined the term; Nature deficit disorder. It is truly nostalgic for the days gone by when children played freely in nature and parents really encouraged it. He believes that children should reconnect with nature, but somehow he feels that society is conditioning our children to fear it. He suggests using the principle of green urbanism and weaving nature into the classroom to foster what he calls: A No Child Left Indoors movement.

Remembering that only in the last three or four decades have we turned our backs on Mother Nature as a source of solitude and enjoyment can help us recover our dulled senses. We must wake up to the proven fact that children need to play, roam and explore nature if they are to grow up to be caring people interested in the well-being of the planet and its resources.

Quotes:

“Get the dirt on the dirt”. Np, ndWeb.

Glenn, J. (2000, September 1). Environment-Based Education, Creating High-Performing Schools and Students. Consulted on May 29, 2015,

Louv, R (2005). The last child in the forest. Saving our children from nature deficit disorder. Chapel Hill, NC: Alonquin Books of Chapel Hill.