London, Europe Brief News – “Don’t get dirty!” was once a constant family refrain, as parents despairingly watched their children spoil their best clothes. Mud
Whether they were running through farmers’ fields, climbing trees or catching tadpoles, it was inevitable that children’s whites would turn brown before the day was over.
Today, many parents may secretly wish their children had the chance to pick up a bit of grime.
With the rise of urbanism, and the allure of video games and social media, contact with nature is much rarer than in the past. For many, there is simply no opportunity to get muddy.
What is gained in laundry bills may be lost in the child’s wellbeing. According to recent research, the dirt outside is teaming with friendly microorganisms that can train the immune system and build resilience to a range of illnesses, including allergies, asthma and even depression and anxiety.
These findings show that outdoor exercise is not only beneficial because of the chance to roam free – but that certain natural materials, such as soil and mud, also contain surprisingly powerful microorganisms whose positive impact on children’s health we are only beginning to fully understand.
Many of the psychological benefits of outdoor play are already well established. Our brains evolved in natural landscapes, and our perceptual systems are particularly well suited to wild outdoor spaces.
This means that natural scenes provide the perfect level of stimulation, which is thought to help recharge the brain when it is tired and easily distractable.
Supporting this theory, one study from 2009 found that children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were better able to concentrate following a 20-minute walk in the park, compared to a 20-minute walk on the streets of a well-kept urban area. Being in the proximity to grass and trees seemed to have had a beneficial effect on their minds.
