A Bit of Dirt Can Be Beneficial
You've seen the cookie fall. And the little hand reach down to pick it up. Horrified you continue to look on bas your child pops the cookie in her mouth even before you could begin to say 'No!'. Will she get ill? How bad will it be?
Most likely she'll be just fine. Maybe even healthier for it.
Here's a recent article that discusses the so-called hygiene hypothesis: Babies Know: A Little Dirt Is Good for You.
Have a look at the article and see why you might not be being doing your children favors by being too obsessive about cleanliness. Let them get grubby every now and then. Not filthy, but proponents of the hygiene hypothesis claim a little dirt every here and there will do them more good than bad.
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:26 am
It’s good to know all the sand my daughter eats at the playground is not going to kill her!