What are the benefits of playing with a Mud Kitchen?

I found it fascinating researching the benefits of play, mud and dirt etc. I didn’t need someone to tell me it was good for children to play. However it was really interesting learning about the scientific evidence that supports our children getting dirty! We need to escape the gaming and hand sanitisers. Run away from the television – sorry Teletubbies & Mr Maker (all depends on the age of your child to which one is relevant!) and embrace mud, dirt and germs.Its time to start cooking those mud pie recipes! We need to start doing more things together, have a look at the list of fun outdoor activities I have come up with for ideas. Having a small allotment has been amazing for our family in terms of having interesting activities to do together. We have learnt about worms, bugs and plants. Discovered weird looking vegetables and even started cooking together, something I never thought I would see. Harry has become a dab hand at pancakes. In the article below I am going to explore why you absolutely need mud, germs and perhaps a mud kitchen (even if you make your own) in your child’s life, and the good news is that getting covered in mud and germs is something you can do for free!

Benefit 1-Eat some mud!

Stop cleaning, put away all those horrible anti-bacterial wipes and that chemical-filled spray. It is not doing your child any good at all and could be causing them harm! Fire the cleaner because dirt is good! Over the last few years there has been some interesting research /books published on yes, would you believe, mud and dirt. I am no scientist, but if nothing else it makes for some really interesting reading. I thought I would just draw out some of the key points from an article published in the Belfast telegraph. In the article Professor Brett Finlay and Dr Marie-Claire Arrieta, (Let Them Eat Dirt book fame) suggest there is now firm evidence that shows early exposure to microbes is beneficial to our childrens’ wellbeing. They believe that microbiota (the microbes that live in and on humans) are great for our health. If you want to expand your knowledge on microbes this is a good article.

“In our quest to clean up our world and get rid of infectious diseases, we have become too clean and we need to rethink our quest for cleanliness,

Professor Brett Finlay

“We don’t directly advocate ‘eating dirt’, but we now realise kids, especially early in life, depend on abundant microbial exposure that’s needed to develop normally. Without this exposure, they are at a much increased risk of the ‘Western’ diseases such as allergies, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, etc. later in life

The Professors also believe the huge rise in the number of children with food allergies is because youngsters are “microbially deprived”, so their immune system doesn’t develop normally and shifts to allergies. If this is true then it is really powerful stuff!

“Letting a kid play in the dirt isn’t necessarily bad – this is how human children evolved, and living in an extremely clean environment is not how we have evolved as a species.”

Benefit 2 – Eat the food that has been DROPPED ON THE FLOOR

Scientist Professor Jack Gilbert, in an article for the Independent newspaper promoting his book Dirt is Good: ‘The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System’ he says, it’s okay to eat food thats been dropped on the floor . We have been doing this for years. Anything cake related that drops on our floor is gone in seconds . However he does point out that its important to use our common sense, so perhaps avoid picking things up that have been on the toilet floor.

Benefit 3 – Let the dog lick you!

Apparently children that are brought up on farms have certain immune advantages over those of us who live in cities or are more urban. According to Professor Gilbert a study done in 2016 looking at Amish children who lived on small farms found significant lower rates of asthma. If like us you can’t afford to buy a farm, then maybe the best solution is to get a dog, let it lick you and roll around in your local fields.

A new advice sheet issued by the Department of Education (Ireland) highlights the benefits of outdoor activities in keeping those germs at bay! They are urging parents to let their kids get dirty, according to the Irishnews.com website.

Just as a baby’s brain needs stimulation and interaction to develop normally; the young immune system needs to be strengthened by some exposure to everyday germs – helping children to become less susceptible to illnesses later in life.

The FOURTH way is to go and LIVE ON A FARM

Having grown up on a farm myself, there is nothing more wonderful than having freedom to explore, and lots of animals around. If we had the money, I would love this option again and would buy a farm need Croyde in North Devon (to drop in a spot of surfing too!!). Apparently children that are brought up on farms have certain immune advantages over those of us who live in cities or are more urban. According to Professor Gilbert a study done in 2016 looking at Amish children who lived on small farms found significant lower rates of asthma. If like us you can’t afford to buy a farm, then maybe the best solution is to get a dog, let it lick you and roll around in your local fields.

Go outside!

A new advice sheet issued by the Department of Education (Ireland) highlights the benefits of outdoor activities in keeping those germs at bay! They are urging parents to let their kids get dirty, according to the Irish news .

“Just as a baby’s brain needs stimulation and interaction to develop normally; the young immune system needs to be strengthened by some exposure to everyday germs – helping children to become less susceptible to illnesses later in life.

Department of Education Ireland

In Conclusion


Rescue a dog, let them eat food off the floor, play in the soil, dirt is Good!”

Professor Gilbert