Why it’s good for kids to get outdoors and get dirty

Less than one quarter of children spend the recommended 60 minutes a day participating in physical activity.¹ Would a bit more time in the fresh air work wonders for our kids? If the research is anything to go by, then it’s a firm ‘yes’.

The benefits of dirt on their immune system

The hygiene hypothesis² claims that, over time, western civilisation has become much cleaner and focused on removing harmful bacteria from our environment. However, as a consequence of this over-cleaning, we’re no longer exposing children to enough dirt, grime and germs to kick-start a well-functioning immune system.The precise things we think will do our little ones harm are, in fact, the things that may strengthen their resilience against things like asthma³ and allergies⁴. It works in a similar way to immunisation. Some germs can actually stimulate the immune system of your child, without being harmful. By introducing your child to certain strains of Mother Nature’s bacteria and viruses at a young age, the body is able to practise appropriate responses and begin building its defence system accordingly. Without exposure to dirt and germs in early life, the immune system doesn’t learn how to control its reaction to every day invaders such as dust and pollen.

The benefits of just getting outside!

Reams of research confirms time spent exploring nature is essential for establishing the foundations of social, emotional and academic learning, as well as physical development.It helps with vitamin D productionVitamin D plays an important role in the development of strong bones and teeth. In addition, it supports the immune system and a normal muscle function.⁵Exposure to sunlight is needed to stimulate the body’s production of Vitamin D₃ and there’s nowhere better to catch some rays than the great outdoors.It helps with mental healthBeing out and about in nature is amazing for kids’ state of mind, with research⁶ showing it has a capacity to reduce aggression, stress, depressive symptoms and anti-social behaviour.It helps form their executive functionA well-developed executive function enables kids to plan, prioritise, self-regulate, adapt and multi-task. Outdoor play gives kids the freedom to enjoy unstructured time⁷ where they can practise all of these skills with minimal restrictions.It cultivates creativityBy age 5, 98% of children score at the creative genius level. But by age 10 that drops to just 30%⁸, as play time turns to more technology-focused activities and ultimately decreases. Outdoor play has the capacity to reignite kids’ imaginations with a stick that becomes a cooking utensil, a magic wand or a sword. Or a challenging tree climb that presents an opportunity to take new risks.It reduces the risk of poor visionSounds unlikely? Well, one study found just an extra 45 minutes a day outside reduced the risk of short-sightedness⁹ by 10%.It sparks cognitive developmentInteracting with natural surroundings has been found to improve memory¹⁰. Plus, when combined with the opportunity of real play (the kind that’s active, physical and self-directed), results in better concentration skills¹¹ post-play, too.

Bringing the outside into play

Dr Justin Coulson has partnered with us to help develop The Resilience Building Bucket List. He has shared lots of fun activities where your child can enjoy outside time, reaping the benefits we’ve mentioned above. Discover the benefits of:

• Planting a vegetable garden
• Playing with a ball in the backyard
• Going to the park and meeting a new friend or climbing on the play equipment
• Playing in the rain