These days, technology has taken over the fun that a good-old fashioned outdoor play brings. Children are so into gadgets and the internet that they have become passive instead of active learners. The funny thing is some parents would rather give their children their iPad or their tablets for their kids to play with because they don’t get messy while playing with these. But is getting messy a bad thing for children? The answer is a big NO.
Here are 5 reasons why it is DEFINITELY ok for your child to get messy:
1. Getting messy sparks his 5 senses
Before you start yelling “Do not touch that! It’s dirty!” to your toddler, know that exploring the things around him is his way of understanding the world. When he sees sand, he doesn’t know what that is unless he feels the sand with his bare hands. Letting your child use his senses through exploration stimulates his brain. So let him go out and feel the mud in his toes, let him touch the dried leaves and listen to the crisp sound they bring, or let him catch a frog!
2. Getting messy builds independence.
What is the best way to teach a toddler to eat on his own? Yes, you got it right, let him eat by himself. It will be M-E-S-S-Y, and would take time for him to master the skills involved in eating on his own but in the end, you will be proud of having raised a self-sufficient and independent child.
3. Getting messy encourages creativity.
Give your child art materials such as paint, paper, clay, paste, or crayons and see all the MESS he could come up with. But at the same time, his creativity shows on how he uses all these materials to come up with a piece of art. His “work of art” might be something that you cannot recognize, but the effort he put into it is a product of his imagination. Also, by using different art materials, he is strengthening his hand and finger muscles.
4. Getting Messy, to a certain extent, can make your child healthy.
Thom McDade, a professor and director the Laboratory for Human Biology Research at Northwestern University stated that the immune system of a child is strengthened by exposure to everyday germs. With this, the child’s immune system can adapt and regulate itself. Also, in the article “Is Dirt Good for Kids?”, author Lisa Zamosky mentioned that several researches suggested that exposing infants to germs may offer them greater protection from illnesses such as allergies and asthma later on in life. So do not be afraid to let your child play outdoors and experience getting “dirty”.
5. Getting dirty is FUN!
Children who play outside have more fun than those who are stuck in their own rooms watching television. They explore, laugh and learn more! Katie Fox (2010) stated that children who play outside grow in their character development as they become more adventurous, more self-motivated, and they are better able to understand and assess risk. They are good problem-solvers too!
So the next time you see your child all covered in paint, sand or mud, don’t freak out. Your child is reaching milestones by getting messy.
References:
Fox, Katie (2010). Let Your Kids Get Dirty. Retrieved on November 12, 2014. Retrieved from http://theartofsimple.net/let-your-kids-get-dirty/
Zamosky, Lisa (2014). Is Dirt Good for Kids?. WebMD. Retrieved on November 12, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/d2n-stopping-germs-12/kids-and-dirt-germs
Make your child whole and happy 