I'm hearing more and more often the benefits of letting children play in dirt. From increasing immunity to ingesting micro-flora (healthy bacteria) that medical experts now think is vital to health. I'm hearing that the human oragnism was designed to live with other organisms. There is even a thread in BB on how having a certain type of worm in your gut alleviates wheat allergies. It all makes sense to me.

But to me it still seems that most kids are discouraged from getting dirty. Astro-turf has replaced grass and soil at so many childcare centres and schools. Everything must be clean and sterile.

I understand the need for infection control... I'm not disputing that. However I also believe that kids should be allowed to get dirty in good CLEAN dirt. I would say that it is less toxic for a child to play in a digging patch at home that it would be at the local Maccas play centre that is so often situated right next to where the cars are queuing for their take-away... think of all those fumes! Think of all the heavy metals that have accumulated on the equipment after day after day of exposure to exhaust. Yeuch!

Do you have a digging patch at home. No, not just sand. Or do your kids help in the vegie garden?

We have a digging patch that we occasionally top up with sand... but as well as that my boys are allowed to roll their toy trucks etc through certain areas of our garden that haven't been planted out yet. There are at least 3 areas that they are allowed to dig in actual dirt. Yep, they get filthy but we don't have any allergies or more than the occasional cold in our house. They also help in the vegie patch looking for spuds etc when they are ready.

Dirt has such amazing play value for a kid, and it's free!!! Hear the squeals of delight when they find a worm! Our kids have also found strange items: old coins, bits of crockery, an old medal.... they are always looking for "treasure". Besides their train sets i reckon digging in the dirt has given me the most precious time in that it has fully occupied my boys in a positive way... they don't seem to fight over dirt LOL unlike a particular toy, there's always enough to go round!