Author: Trisha Leigh Zeigenhorn / Source: did you know?
I’m not the kind of mom who really cares whether her kids get dirty (most of the time), but even I struggle some days when their clothes are spotted before we even make it out of the house.
If you’re the opposite type of parent, read on – because according to science, a little (or a lot) of dirt could actually be good for your kids.
Dr. Jack Gilbert, one of the authors of Dirt Is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System, explains that not only is dirt not all that harmful in itself, but it could actually be good for your child’s immune system. And in an age when children spend less and less time outside in favor of over-sterilized indoor spaces, a little dirt could go a long way in preventing things like allergies, eczema, and asthma.
“Your child’s immune system needs to see foreign antigens, including those on bacteria and viruses. You really don’t need to carry a sanitizer around with you, just make them wash their hands before they eat dinner – it’s only polite.”
And listen, you don’t even need to make them wash their hands consistently, because that could undo all the benefits the lovely dirt has delivered.
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