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What is it About a Child's Attraction to Dirt?
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Our Natural Instinct is to Love Dirt
New research says that it is possible that children are 'too' clean and would be better off sticking to their natural instincts There was a study done in 2012, where researchers tested what would happen to mice if they were bred to lack stomach bacteria and how it would effect their immune system. It found that exposure early in life to microbes helped to train certain immune cells to resist disease later in life. Exposure to those same microbes as an adult did not have the same effect. The immune cells affected were generally those in the lungs and colon due to hyperactivity in T cells. This is similar to that found in humans with asthma. The most important point from the research is the idea that during the early years of life their are some crucial biological developments that happen which cannot be recreated later on in life and building a strong immune system is one of them.Playing in Dirt Builds a Strong Immune System
By no means am I suggesting that you feed your child spoonfuls of dirt, I am rather letting you know that you can stop worrying and place your energy elsewhere. People are so worried about their children catching a cold or flu that they are obsessively focused on whether their child is clean and germ-free. However, this seems to be against the natural rhythm of life. Science has proven that dirt is beneficial to a child's life. Children love dirt because they instinctively know it is good for them in order to grow up having strong immune systems. We can now relax and trust that our children will actually be healthier the dirtier they get. Take a deep breath and enjoy watching the joy your child has playing in dirt while knowing that they are building their intuitive side and a strong immune system.Alex is a renowned speaker, (R)evolutionary teacher and world traveler, having lived and studied in the United States, South Africa and Costa Rica. She has a BA in Environmental Studies, a Masters Degree in Psychology and is a qualified Yoga instructor. She is a continuous source of inspiration to thousands of women around the world and has spent her life tirelessly researching ways to maintain a fully balanced life.