How Playing And Getting Dirty Affects Child Development
Many parents ask (some even demand) that their children be perfectly groomed and in clean clothes when they leave school. So you can’t play and get dirty? Not always, because, in many cases, adults, caregivers and monitors, are more concerned with not letting the little ones get dirty and than with actually having fun, being what they are, children.
How many times have we heard mothers and fathers tell their children “Don’t sit on the floor” or “Be careful, you’ll get your clothes dirty ” ? In fact, it’s so common that we get used to it and even say it ourselves.
However, is it really good to try to keep our kids from getting dirty all the time and demand that they be careful not to stain their clothes? It is true that fathers and mothers do this for the child’s sake, but is it really necessary and good? Let’s see below.
play and get dirty
While hygiene is always important, it’s also important to play worry free. Remember that during child development, one of the ways a child has to learn is by playing.
Children ‘s games include several elements, among which exploration stands out . As they say, “You can’t make an omelet without breaking the eggs” . In this case, we can say that something similar happens. For the little ones to explore, investigate and learn, they need to get dirty, stain their clothes and get their hands dirty.
Therefore, dirt is part of child development. And the question is: do you know any children who don’t make a mess when they eat, when they paint, when they do something for the first time?
It is normal for children to be curious, get dirty, lie on the floor, put objects in their mouths… We, as parents, must be aware that what they do is not dangerous, as this is part of their development, of their learning and, ultimately, of your happiness.
How does playing and getting dirty affect the child?
Undoubtedly, the effects are always positive. A child who gets dirty, since he is not concerned about keeping his clothes clean, has a lot of fun. Therefore, we find several benefits.
Exploration
Children are explorers by nature. It’s your way of investigating and learning. Therefore, when a child makes a big mess playing with dirt, paint, even food or other elements, he, in turn, is learning.
Fun
It’s certainly fun. The little one plays without worrying if he is getting dirty or staining his clothes. This is usually synonymous with having fun enjoying the game.
Creativity
In addition, this light-heartedness is also child-friendly from a creative point of view. Trying, experimenting, touching, smearing… All of this increases creativity.
Protection
Interestingly, by allowing children to get dirty, touch an animal, or do that sort of thing, we also improve their health as their immune system is strengthened.
So, we have to understand this aspect for what it is. In other words, it is effective when done with common sense. It is not a good thing that children are always dirty or that they can do everything. It is simply necessary to know that if the child is raised in the presence of a pet, it is unlikely that he will develop an allergy to animal hair, for example. But, at the end of the day, the little ones will always need a good shower.
In relation to playing and getting dirty…
And in summary, answering the main question, we can say that the way in which playing to get dirty affects children’s development is positive, as they feel more free to experiment, investigate and, finally, learn.
Therefore, whenever possible from a logical point of view and with common sense, we consider it interesting to allow the little ones to stain their clothes and get dirty without worrying about it.
Likewise, we always have the option of letting the little ones wear torn and old clothes or clothes that might get dirty while playing and having fun. Or, if that’s not possible, we can also opt for the classic aprons for children, which have always been useful so that they don’t spoil their everyday clothes.
