After the week we’ve had with all the rain and watching the kids play, I feel like I’ve got to write about mud! The kids have been very into playing in the mud and dirt the last couple of weeks, good thing, too, considering the rain we’ve gotten.
I know my kids enjoy playing in all kinds of mud. Just last week, they were building castles and moats on the side of a river. At Farmstead, an elaborate system of dams and tunnels has been built, as well as soups and cupcakes; the main ingredient is, of course, mud.
There are many benefits to mud, other than just being fun to play in. In 2007, a study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience, which showed that playing in dirt or mud has the same effects as an antidepressant. No wonder the kids love it, and I love it too!
It has also been shown to encourage creativity, strengthen communication, and math skills, and fine motor skills. There are so many benefits to playing in dirt and mud, I hope you find some to play in too!