Rain or Shine Mamma

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes

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Are Your Kids Too Clean? Germs vs. Playing Outside

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November 11, 2013 By Linda McGurk

“Lite skit rensar magen.”

Growing up in Sweden, I heard this old saying more than once. It roughly translates to “A little bit of dirt cleanses the stomach.” While I wouldn’t take this literally, researchers are finding more and more evidence for the theory that being exposed to certain microbes in the womb and early childhood strengthens our immune system and protects us from illnesses later on. Smaller family sizes, increased antibiotics use, less contact with animals, more time spent indoors, and an obsession with cleanliness have all contributed to our immune systems slacking off in the past 50 years. And when the immune system isn’t challenged enough it might start looking for things to do, like overreacting to things that aren’t really dangerous, causing allergies, asthma, eczema, childhood diabetes and inflammation later in life.Are your kids too clean?

In a society where nothing is considered really clean unless it’s been immersed in Clorox, and hand sanitizer is hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread, it turns out that maybe keeping our kids sterile isn’t so good after all.

In academic lingo, this is called the hygiene hypothesis, and it’s been around since 1989. Many studies have supported this hypothesis, most famously a comparison of children in West and East Germany before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The researchers were surprised to find that the children in the poorer, dirtier and less developed East were less likely to suffer from asthma and allergies than the children in the West. More recently, studies have found that Amish children have remarkably low rates of asthma and allergies. The reason? Likely what European scientists call the “farm effect.” Breathing in the microbes found in manure from cattle and other farm animals every day is beneficial to the immune system and could explain why only 7.2 percent of the Amish children in one study had an increased risk for allergies, compared to 50 percent of the general population. The Amish kids also had more siblings to pass around the germs, which means they build more immunity. And the earlier we’re exposed, the better the protection.

Of course nobody is saying that we should feed our kids dirt, stop taking showers or go back to the days when the drinking water was so filthy that people drank alcohol to stay healthy. Nor should you consider the hygiene hypothesis a valid excuse to stop cleaning your house (dangit!).

Vaccinations, antibiotics and the improvements in sanitation and personal hygiene in the industrialized world have been key to curbing outbreaks of infectious diseases and have saved a lot of lives. At the same time, our modern lifestyle has wiped out a lot of beneficial microbes, including some in our guts that help us stay healthy, and likely triggered the current epidemics of asthma and allergies. Striking a balance between ‘not clean’ and ‘too clean’ can be hard, and even the scientists don’t fully understand our complicated relationship with parasites, bacteria and viruses.

So what is a parent to do?Child playing in dirt.

  • Let your kids play outside as much as possible. And don’t freak out if Little Johnny gets dirty or sticks his fingers in his mouth after playing with those earthworms. Most germs in our environment are completely harmless and some are even beneficial to our health and well-being.
  • Don’t pressure your doctor for antibiotics at the first sign of a cold. Chances are the infection is viral and won’t be helped by antibiotics, and overuse of antibiotics leads to drug-resistant bacteria.
  • Let your child spend time with animals early on in life or, better yet, get a dog. As gross as it may sound, being around the microbes found in animal poop can help protect against allergies later in life.
  • Wash hands to avoid infections, but ditch the antibacterial hand soap and non-alcoholic hand sanitizer. They don’t do anything that regular soap and water can’t take care of, and most of them contain triclosan, a harmful hormone disruptor that is believed to create bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
  • Stop your bleach-infused house-cleaning routine. There’s no need to use the nuclear option of cleaning supplies when old-fashioned soap and water does the same job, without harming the environment and killing beneficial bacteria.

Sources: Can it Be Bad to be Too Clean? The Hygiene Hypothesis, The Scientific American; A Cure for the Allergy Epidemic?, The New York Times Sunday Review; How keeping children too clean can wreck their immune systems, The Mail Online; Is Dirt Good for Kids?, WebMD, The FDA says studies on triclosan, used in sanitizers and soaps, raises concerns, The Washington Post

Child with muddy hands
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Related posts:

Cleanliness and Kids: Should You Let Them Eat Dirt? Rain or Shine Mamma.Cleanliness and Kids: Should You Let Them Eat Dirt? Dressing for Fall – Tips to Keep Your Kids Warm While Playing Outside 3 Common Health Myths About Playing Outside. Rain or Shine MammaThree Common Health Myths About Playing Outside Embracing Messy Play: Advice From a Type A Parent. Messy play, or sensory play, plays an integral part for a healthy child development. These tips will help you embrace messy play and still keep your home from turning into a disaster zone! From Rain or Shine MammaEmbracing Messy Play: Advice from a (Recovering) Type A Parent
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Filed Under: Green Living, Inspiration, Outdoor Play, Parent with Nature, Play in Nature, Tips and Tricks 19 Comments

Comments

  1. 911shazza says

    November 11, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    It can be so easy to get swept up into the sterile world. I try and let my kids be explorers, yet I also hear my voice telling them to stop putting their hands in their months… great article!!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      November 12, 2013 at 9:00 am

      Yes, I agree. What really worries me is the rise of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. That can have some really devastating effects, so education about anti-bacterial soaps and cleaners is key. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
      • Mark West says

        September 5, 2014 at 1:40 am

        The problem that most people don’t understand is that these new “super bugs” were created resistant to current treatments due to a obsession with cleanliness.

        Reply
  2. Rachael says

    November 21, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Thank you! I love reading this article as the boys just came in to eat lunch after being outside for an hour in 38° weather digging for worms with snot running down the 4yr olds face. I gave them a bar of soap saud clean up and let them do it. About 5 min into lunch i did look down to see my 7yr olds hands only to tell him to go wash again. They need that time as much as anything else, extra bonus I was able to see five giant worms my day is now complete! LOL

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      November 21, 2013 at 3:32 pm

      Wonderful to hear that your kids get to play outside! They’ll thank you later:o) Digging for worms is one of my girls’ favorite activities of all times as well – keeps them entertained for hours!

      Reply
  3. Keara B. says

    November 22, 2013 at 6:00 pm

    This is a fantastic post, and I couldn’t agree more. I used to work as an communicable disease nurse, so at times I have to quell my profession-borne instinct to wash and clean everything. Yes, I’m paranoid about germs but I also believe that frequent exposure to all things germy (within reason, of course) is healthy for my daughter. She plays outdoors all the time, goes to swimming pools, playgrounds, etc. And I refuse to bleach my house every week. My husband grew up in a household where his mother used Clorox for everything and anything, and my husband has a lot of allergies. I often wonder if he’d be less sensitive if his mom had let him (and their household) be a little more “dirty.” 🙂 Thanks for bringing light to an important topic!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      November 25, 2013 at 8:50 am

      Glad you enjoyed the post! I think one of the main problems is that we tend to treat all germs as “bad” even though that’s not true. The bottom line is that there are a lot of companies that are profiting immensely by fueling this fear of dirt and anti-bacterial products have really gotten a stronghold in the US. It will take a lot of education to change that but it can be done. In Sweden, for example, chlorine is no longer allowed in cleaning products due to its toxicity and because it causes bacteria to become resistant.

      Reply
  4. Michaela says

    March 17, 2014 at 6:36 am

    Yes, it is no problem to get rid of the mud on our children’s hands but the dirt that wraps our children’s soul while spending hours unsupervised on electronical appliance is hard hard work to get rid of it, if at all we can clean these things off. THIS is really woring, not some sand and mud, that are signs of joy, imagination and physical involvement with their environment .

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 17, 2014 at 8:27 am

      Michaela, I agree with you. I think unlimited electronics use is one of the main reasons why fewer kids play outside today and that’s why I restrict the use of them here at home.

      Reply
  5. Andrea376 says

    June 13, 2014 at 7:23 am

    Absolutely! I had a that kind of childhood and I am pretty happy with it. Today when I see a 9 year old child playing with tablet, it reminds me of my time; I was probably eating dirt at that age 😀
    But thanks for sharing these awesome suggestions. I guess as parents, we need to do that!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      June 14, 2014 at 7:11 am

      Thank you – I appreciate you stopping by!

      Reply
  6. Mike says

    November 8, 2014 at 9:40 am

    My sister in law always took her children to the doctor for the slightest ailment even if it were only a cut hand that drew blood, she also kept her house squeaky clean. Her youngest is 16 and 2 days ago she got a virus after a cold and is now confined to hospital for a few weeks because she has lost the use of her legs and needs physio to learn to walk again. Possibly due to her weak immune system.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      November 12, 2014 at 10:49 pm

      So sorry to hear that, Mike. I hope she will be OK.

      Reply
  7. Kathy says

    November 3, 2016 at 8:06 pm

    I realize that this is an old post. However I really enjoyed reading it. I’m going through terrible anxiety right now with my two and a half year old about germs. I was never like this when he was really little. The opposite actually. I let him put things in his mouth at play groups and stuff. Then last year the two of us got hit with a brutal stomach bug and since then i am beyond paranoid. I was avoiding taking him to public places and whenever I absolutely had to I would constantly wash his hands. I’m starting to loosen up because a lot of people made me realize I’m doing more harm than good. My question is how do I find balance? So the last few days I’ve taken him to play groups and play grounds and didn’t even wash his hands afterwards. YIKES. Seems so absurd to me but now I’m obsessing that I’m turning him in to a bubble child. What is a good balance?

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      November 4, 2016 at 6:37 am

      Yes, it’s an old post, but the content is just as true today! Exposure – to germs and other kids – is important to build immunity, but there’s a difference between beneficial germs and pathogenic germs. While the former are good for us, the latter are what lands us in the bathroom puking our guts out. Daycares, preschools and other places where a lot of children gather indoors in tight spaces are notorious for spreading disease, but interestingly research has shown that the incidence decreases the more time the children spend outside. So by seeking out outdoor activities (and maybe the playgroup that you’re talking about already is outside?) you’re already in a much better place than if you’re indoors. I highly recommend that you read Let Them Eat Dirt (aff. link), a new book written by two microbiologists who give great, detailed advice about what to do and not do when it comes to germs. I’m reading it right now and will review it on the blog in the near future. Hope this helps!

      Reply
      • Kathy says

        November 4, 2016 at 10:41 am

        Thanks for your advice Linda. Oh I absolutely loved your page and it makes complete sense. I just meant it’s an old post so I wasn’t sure if it was active still and I would get a response. I wish I could find outdoor play groups. They are indoors at malls, schools etc :-(.

        Reply
        • Linda McGurk says

          November 4, 2016 at 12:03 pm

          Oh yes, I’m active still:o) If there are no existing outdoor playgroups in your area, maybe you could start one? It could be worth a try! The Children and Nature Network has some good information about Family Nature Clubs; that’s a good place to start.

          Reply
  8. Vanessa Gilliam says

    January 25, 2017 at 12:49 pm

    I run a small child care center for infants and toddlers. We’re all about dirt in any form and fashion. I am a presenter across NC for early childhood development to encourage other early childhood professionals and parents to let infants and toddlers explore the natural world. I enjoyed your article. 🙂 Keep up the good work.
    Vanessa

    Reply

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There are a lot of good things about tech, but exc There are a lot of good things about tech, but excessive screen time is taking a toll on children’s physical and mental health today. Many apps and games have built-in mechanisms designed to make them highly addictive and children are even more susceptible to them than adults, since their brains are not fully developed🧠Screens are so ubiquitous in our lives today that it takes conscious effort to balance them with experiences IRL. 

For the past few years, our family has experimented with screen free or screen reduced Sundays. I’m not going to pretend that it’s easy. But if the goal is to increase quality family time outdoors and encourage the kind of creativity that arises from a healthy dose of boredom, it does work🌳

Some other tips to foster a healthy screen time culture in your family are:

✅ Learn how to use the parent controls on your kids’ devices and set age-appropriate limits.

✅ Have certain times or spaces that are always screen free, for example around the dinner table, in the bedrooms and so on, and be sure to be consistent. 

✅ Create a buy-in for the kids by letting them help plan screen free activities for the whole family.

What’s your biggest obstacle when it comes to keeping screen time under control?
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📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚 A few y 📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚

A few years ago, I did a poll in my social media channels to see what topic you’d like me to explore in my next book. One of them won by an overwhelming margin: the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv. Well, I heeded your call. I’m pleased to share that it’s now possible to pre-order The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day from just about any place that sells books! (Link in bio)

The Open-Air Life is for anybody who is longing to lead a simpler, happier and less hurried life. It shows you how to channel the power of nature connection to improve your physical and mental health, as well as your relationships with both other people and Mother Nature. Plus, you’ll learn a few party tricks, like lighting a campfire without matches and cleaning water on the go. At a time when more and more people are starting to appreciate why they should spend more time outside, this book will show you how, with a decidedly Nordic twist.

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Do you have any stories of getting in over your head to share?😃
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Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know tha Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know that’s a spider emoji, but you get the idea😅) 

A lot of people freak out at the sight of these blood suckers and understandably so, considering the diseases they can harbor. But they too are a part of nature and if we want to keep venturing outside during the warmer months (I definitely do and I suspect you do too) we must come to terms with them.

If you want to know more about tick prevention, I just wrote a pretty detailed post about it on my blog. Head over to rainorshinemamma.com to learn and share this post with others who worry about ticks!👌🏻
________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #ticks #tickprevention
I missed a meeting Sunday night😬 An informal me I missed a meeting Sunday night😬 An informal meeting, yes, but still…I take pride in being dependable and prompt, and I hate to be flakey. 

I’d like to think that it was because I got distracted when my daughter called from my mom’s house and said she was running a fever, but in reality I got sidetracked well before that. Weekends are my time to zone out from schedules, emails and social media, and spend more time outside, especially this time of the year. 

So I missed a meeting. But I gained a quiet paddle through pastel waters as the sun slowly descended below the spruces on the horizon. An hour to myself to just be one with the lake, the light and the promise of the summer that still lies ahead☀️
__________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #sup #standuppaddle #sweden #sweden_photolovers #sweden_images
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations @wiet This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations @wietinghannah, you’re our winner!🎊

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Have you heard the term "ecohappiness"? If not, this is your chance to learn more! 

Author Sandi Schwartz and I have teamed up to give away a copy of her book "Finding Ecohappiness," an inspirational manifesto and practical guidebook for families to get outside and enjoy nature together. Packed with ideas for outdoor activities like animal yoga, forest bathing, sit spotting, float therapy and nature art, this book is definitely one to add to your collection📕 

How to enter👇🏼
✅ Like and save this post
✅ Follow @rainorshinemamma and @getecohappiness 
✅ Comment by completing this sentence: "To me, being in nature is..."

This giveaway closes on June 4 and a winner will be selected shortly after that. You must be 18 and live in the US or Canada to enter. This giveaway is not associated with or sponsored by Instagram. 

Good luck!🙌🏽

#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #ecohappiness #findingecohappiness #naturebooks #goodreads #naturelovers #ecotherapy #getkidsoutside
Having scientific reasons and explanations for doi Having scientific reasons and explanations for doing things is good and there are any number of ways free climbing benefits our physical and mental health. But sometimes you’ve just got to trust your guts, feel all the feelings and enjoy the joyride🙌🏻🌳

What makes you feel joy in nature?
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I’m not going to lie - there are times when my c I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌

As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.

As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻
_____________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #1000hoursoutside #quote
Did you know that camping for as little as two nig Did you know that camping for as little as two nights straight can help you reset your circadian rhythms and improve your sleep for several weeks afterwards? That's because the natural light helps the body regulate melatonin, a hormone that tells the body when it's time to get up and go, and when it's time to rest and recuperate🌗 

My melatonin levels weren't top of mind when @jeanetteosterman and I started our challenge to sleep outside at least once a month for a year. But I must say, I rarely sleep as soundly and feel as energetic as I do when I sleep under the skies.

Have you ever tried sleeping in a camping hammock? I bought my first one a few years ago and I ❤️ it!
_________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #openairlife #sleepingoutside #camping #campinglife #hammock #sleepingoutsidechallenge #freshaireveryday
Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and fe Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and feel like you're constantly negotiating/fighting/fretting over your child's screen time👋🏼 

Well, you're not alone😰 

Since 2011, when mobile internet had its breakthrough, teens' and tweens' screen time has increased dramatically. At the same time, physical activity has decreased significantly. The WHO recommends that teenagers get at least one hour of physical activity every day, but in reality 85% of the girls and 78% of the boys globally don't meet the target.

Making outdoor activity a normal part of your daily routine can help  your tween or teen get the exercise and fresh air they need  and lay the foundation for lifelong healthy habits. I'm the first to admit that it isn't easy, but then again, nobody said parenting would be a cakewalk🤪

Hang in there and check out a few of the strategies that help me balance screen time with 'green time'. Do you have any tips to share?
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #parenting #parentingteens #parentingtweens #getoutside
“I’m not thrilled about looking older. But wha “I’m not thrilled about looking older. But what unsettles me the most about the 40s is the implication that I’m now a grown-up myself.”
- Pamela Druckerman

Forty-four laps around the sun today and I still find that the passing of time is one of life’s greatest mysteries.
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #aging #44 
@pameladruck
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