Growing up on a farm in the countryside of Utah, my childhood was filled with dirt, mud, grass, and yes, even manure. If you didn’t come home covered in grime, you clearly hadn’t had enough fun. Fast forward to today, and I find myself in a rural neighborhood with my three kids, who are more inclined to engage with video games than to get their hands dirty. While I’ve come to terms with the fact that convincing my 10-year-old son to shower feels like a monumental task, my concerns about cleanliness have shifted.
According to Dr. Sarah Johnson, a researcher specializing in microbial ecosystems at the University of Chicago and author of Embracing Dirt, children today are missing out on vital exposure to germs that could strengthen their immune systems. During a recent discussion with NPR, Dr. Johnson highlighted a common mistake many parents make: over-sanitizing their children’s environments. When my 3-year-old ventures into the backyard and comes back muddy, my instinct is to rush her inside for a quick wash. However, Dr. Johnson argues that this instinct may be misguided, as exposure to dirt can actually be beneficial for their health.
Pets are another area where we can ease up. Dr. Johnson noted that while handwashing is important during cold and flu season, the occasional lick from a family dog isn’t harmful. In fact, it might even promote better health outcomes for kids. Though I find it hard to reconcile the idea of my child being licked by a creature that also licks itself, the potential benefits are encouraging.
And what about that fallen pacifier? Dr. Johnson dismisses the so-called five-second rule as a myth but suggests that parents shouldn’t hesitate to pop that pacifier back into a child’s mouth after a brief encounter with the ground. In fact, a study involving over 300,000 children indicated that those whose parents sanitized their pacifiers by licking them had lower rates of allergies, asthma, and eczema. Thankfully, my family has moved past the pacifier stage, as I’m not quite ready to embrace that practice myself.
When it comes to hand sanitizer, Dr. Johnson prefers good old soap and warm water, which is less harmful to a child’s overall health. The takeaway from her research is clear: unless there’s a significant health risk, let your children indulge in messiness. For instance, when my toddler picked up dog waste and smeared it on her sister, I was justified in rushing them both inside for a cleanup. However, if it had simply been dirt, I would have been overreacting.
Dr. Johnson’s findings contribute to a growing movement encouraging parents to allow their children to explore the outdoors without fear of getting dirty. A recent study from the University of Iowa found that toddlers exposed to messy, non-solid materials like oatmeal and glue in familiar settings—such as high chairs—showed improved language acquisition. Sensory exploration, which often involves a bit of chaos, is crucial for development.
So, what’s the practical implication for parents? It suggests we can ease up on our vigilance about dirt. We don’t need to be on constant “dirty kid” patrol or frequently dousing our kids in hand sanitizer. Instead of worrying about that dirty pacifier making its way back into a child’s mouth, we can embrace their natural inclination to explore and get messy.
As Dr. Johnson pointed out during her interview, not allowing children to get dirty could lead to immune system issues later in life. As a parent, I understand the struggle of wanting to keep my kids clean. But clearly, I need to take a step back, relax, and let them enjoy their childhood messiness.
Dr. Johnson summed it up perfectly: “Allow your kid to experience the world. As long as they’re properly vaccinated, there’s no threat, and they will actually gain a stronger, more beneficial exposure.” This is something I clearly need to work on—not just for their health, but for my own peace of mind too.
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Summary
Research emphasizes the importance of allowing children to engage with dirt and germs to strengthen their immune systems. Renowned experts advocate for a more relaxed approach to cleanliness, suggesting that minor exposure to messiness is beneficial for child development.