Do you let your child get dirty?
By free_man
@free_man (7330)
United States
March 2, 2010 8:10pm CST
I let my children get dirty cause my mother let us get dirty. Really we played in dirt all the time. We had mud pies all the time. I never kept my children clean all day long. I did keep them clean when we was going somewhere but let them play when we wasn't going anywhere. I have pretty healthy children now. My sister kept her babies clean everytime they got dirty she ran them in the house and cleaned them up. I have healthy children. My sisters children have all kinds of health problems. So do you keep your children clean all the time ? Or do you let them play and get dirty?
2 people like this
5 responses
@homeshoppers (6166)
• Philippines
3 Mar 10
i guess theres nothing wrong to see those kids being dirty as its one way for them to explore whatever they want. important things for the child is to let them play whatever they want to be contented with their childhood life being having fun. though we really cant avoid it thinking they get sick. but i guess once a week will do.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
3 Mar 10
Hi Homeshoppers. Heck I couldn't turn my back on my children or they would be nasty from digging in the dirt. I love the fact that I have healthy children. Cause I didn't run and clean them when they got dirt on them. I was brought up playing in the dirt and with dirty things. And I am healthy never been in the hospital for any sickness. Never even had a simple cold in my entire life. And I thank God for that. My sister used to run after her children and kept them spotless and her children have been sick most of their lives. Cause she thought if they got dirty they would get sick and kept them clean too clean.
@brynnesmom (169)
• Canada
3 Mar 10
Kids are tactile creatures, they learn a lot by touching things. My daughther plays with worms and chases grasshoppers when we're outside. She loves to help me plant seeds and she's filthy by the time we come inside. But this is how she learns about nature, some science and it builds problem solving skills and self-esteem because she is discovering things for herself.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
3 Mar 10
Hi Brynnesmom. When my children was growing up I did the same sort of stuff with my children. I thought like you it was important to build problem solving skills and self esteem. I have very healthy children too. My sisters children are sickly cause she wouldn't let them get dirty.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
3 Mar 10
If we are not going away, I don't worry about it. They can have fun, getting dirty.
1 person likes this
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
3 Mar 10
I had always let my kids play outside making mud pies and just getting downright dirty. Which we now do with my granddaughter. I do believe if you keep your child clean all the time they don't get to battle their immune system for later on in life. Its just like if you bundle up your child with scarf, hat and gloves. They don't get sick and then later in life they will be sick and their immune system will not always be able to fight the illness. You need them to get sick so the immune system learns to fight the fight at a young age.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
3 Mar 10
Hi Lelin. I think like you. If you don't let their immune system battle at a young age then they will never be able to handle getting sick. My mother taught me that. She was full blooded indian. I am 3/4 indian and found at a young age to stay healthy I had to be able to handle all the germs that came around. And to this day I have never had anything wrong with me and I am now in my late 50's. I have a sister that kept her children clean all the time and they stay sick. My kids on the other hand are like me healthy. I keep telling young mothers let your children get dirty and let them play it will make them a lot healthier in the long run. Good for you to let your children play and have fun.
@frissph (130)
• Philippines
3 Mar 10
I'd rather see my child enjoying themselves than keeping them clean. Kids are kids so I let them have fun without worrying about how clean they are. That's my responsibility, I can just clean them up afterward. I also read somewhere that it's not good to keep your kid sheltered and germ-free all the time because that wouldn't allow the immune system to build up its natural defenses against germs so I'm actively practicing that.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
3 Mar 10
Hi Frissph and welcome to my lot. I never kept my children clean either. I let them play and have fun. My mother let us get dirty when growing up and we are all healthy. I figured like my mother if I kept them germ free they wouldn't be healthy. My sister on the other hand kept her children clean all the time and they are pretty sickly. My children on the other hand are real healthy.Good for you.
