You know, kids don’t really care about grass stains on their knees, mud on their shoes or sand embedded in their fingers nails. And neither should we parents! A Little Dirt on Your Dress Can’t Hurt!
A Little Dirt on Your Dress Can’t Hurt
I’m totally fine with my girls coming home with stains and dirt over their clothing if it means they are outside, learning, exploring and having fun. Why? Because I don’t think getting dirty is just a boy thing to do. I can always wash their clothing, use the most environmentally friendly soap if needed and the sun to bleach out those stains. We won’t force my daughters to get dirty but I sure won’t keep them from being creative and explore their surroundings, they need to do that for themselves.
I enjoy watching my 3-year-old play in the sandbox while my other daughter (8 months old) rips piece after piece of grass out of the ground, eats it and then decides to throw it on the ground. Sometimes I join them in the fun…no not eating the grass but get my hands dirty too. We don’t want to be helicopter parents that makes every decision for my girls but at the same time I don’t want to sit back too much and ignore them while I play on my phone.
It does Create more Work
It’s a balancing act for us parents. I think sometimes we are afraid to let kids be kids because it may be more work in the end. But in fact, they are learning to discover new things, problem solve on their own, building their self confidence and getting a little dirty in the mean time with out any care in the world. According to a study in 2011, girls who play in dirt grow up healthier! Now that is something to think about.
I hope my girls will learn to dust off the dirt of their skirt, toss the grass around and keep playing before they get to big to “just play”.
Do you let your girls play in the mud, get grass stains and explore being outside?
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I’ve also heard that letting little children be around animals as they grow up may lessen their chances of developing allergies. Cute pictures of your children outside!
I’ve heard that as well. It’s the same theory behind playing the dirt, the more they are exposed the healthier they (could) be.
Thanks for your comment 🙂
Love it and couldn’t agree more. I have two boys and we are farmers so dirt (among other things lol) is a standard in our home. When they get together with my niece, she’s right in there with them. My SIL can’t stand the dirt but it is so great to watch the three little ones digging in the dirt together (even if it is their great grandma’s garden they’ve decided to dig in)!
One thing I’ve learned: Just stick them in their dirty clothes from yesterday when they go outside again. Way less laundry that way 😉
Good suggestion on wearing yesterday’s clothing! It’s going to get washed at some point, right!
Thanks for your comment.
We don’t do enough outside time for my daughter, but my son gets booted out to the backyard daily. My daughter gets outside playtime when we go to the park. (Then, of course, she’s all about playing in the gravel.)
Anytime outside is great. See if you can increase it even by 10 – 15 minutes each time you take your daughter out. Playing in the gravel is great – it’s a neat texture and fun to play with.
heck yes.
we be all about the dirt and stains and MESSY for sure.
love it!
I was outside playing in a skirt as much as I possiblycould. Though before ahe 5 if got uunplanned wet I wouldfreak out. I ccouldn’tbe outside very mmuchin summer but we hbhad swing set inside the bassement that me and my full sister loved. We where’ and still are extremely sun sensitive but yiu could bet in sprimg and Autumn we climned trees and I played baseball with boys in neighborhoodand she pplayed basketball with whomeverwas able to gather around in ssummer we had fun with friends inside and when wento outside we where slathered in sunscreen. I once at ten insids got burnt thru a window whwn we went swimming at a hotel pool we would have never after some stuff happened to me when I was little in kiddie pool been allowed in outdoor pool but dad madesure we got hotel coupletimes yr for few days so we still got to swim.
You have so many great stories about playing outside. I think that is wonderful. Way better than – I played XBox and got a high score 🙂