How to Keep Kids Safe From Germs and Eating Dirt?
When our kids were little, my dad would always say to his grandkids when they were bleeding, "just throw some dirt on it, and you will be fine." No, it was not a literal statement. It did get them to laugh and to realize there was no need for tears. The horrible expressions of onlooking parents were a different story. They must have been thinking about the dangers of infection having dirt put on a wound instead of Neosporin. Or worse, the possibility of some flesh-eating bacteria or parasites afflicting the child. An irresponsible statement that would probably be captured on video nowadays than at risk of going viral. But in today's world, kids are being brought up in a sterile environment. No longer is the three-second rule acceptable when food gets dropped on the floor. They are required to wear masks because of COVID19 as young as two years old. Hand sanitizer is used every time kids touch something while scrubbing their hands raw several times a day has become a ritual. What is the balance of cleanliness and dirty?
How clean is clean?
The first and foremost question is about the dangers of dirt. Can dirt cause harm? Scientists agree that it might not be desirable for a child to eat dirt or even be covered in dirt, but it does not cause damage. Just the opposite, if the child is prevented from playing with mudpies, mud puddles, or digging up worms, their emotional development is at risk of harm. Letting the child get dirty lowers their stress levels, keeps them active, provides an influx of vitamin D, boosts their immune system, and makes them happy. I know when our oldest would come home from first grade, he was covered with stuff. Ketchup from lunch, paint from art class and of course, mud and grass stains from the playground adorned his clothes. Initially, I would chastise him for coming home a mess, but I very quickly realized that this very active boy learned a lot that day. I changed my tune and inquired about each and every stain, which of course, all had a story.
There is also the opposite spectrum that believes playing in dirt or eating dirt strengthens the immune system. I wouldn’t recommend starting to give dirt as a supplement, but there is some truth to this. Research shows that playing in dirt exposes children to everyday germs, building a healthy immune system. Microbes in the soil can be harmful to us in large doses, but small amounts can make our immune systems helping us in later life. The more parasites, viruses, and bacteria our immune system is exposed to, our system can fight off other contagions, including allergies or asthma.
Playing in the mud, Kearney, NE
Asthma is the fastest-growing American epidemic. I know we feel we dodged a bullet with our youngest child. He had croup until puberty which is very scary. The laundry list of childhood respiratory illnesses included pneumonia and RSV. We were fortunate that he never developed asthma. But as the third child, he acted like a human mop when he military crawled across the floor-sweeping the dog hair as he moved. His two older brothers would include him in apple sauce fights, and he would regularly help himself to the dog food. We chuckled when the three boys returned from playing in the empty lot across the street covered with mud, a childhood mudfest. He was definitely not raised in a sterile environment. Did that prevent him from developing asthma? I don’t have the answer to that; however, as an adult, he rarely gets sick. I do believe his immune system is robust.
The question on many parent’s minds, "how do I keep my children safe from germs?" The answer is, you don’t. They are more at risk of not experiencing life and the great outdoors. Their emotional happiness needs to be the primary focus. Let the kids be free to play. The message should be, play in the dirt and have fun. Just wash your hands before dinner.
Wash your hands before dinner, please.
