Following on from my previous post, I wanted to witter some more about getting outside and the benefits. One thing that has always bugged me is the way that we have become so squeamish as a nation. Everything is anti-bacteria this, anti-bacteria that, I know some people whose children will never be allowed to play in dirt because it’s “unhygienic” and “gross”… but is it?
Ok, let me clarify, mud is gross. It’s full of worms, it gets crusty when it dries and it gets EVERYWHERE, but people, get liberated and get muddy!! It’s FUN. Yeah, fun. Especially when you’re small and you live for those textures, those messy moments that make your mum pull the “oh shit my laundry pile” faces. It’s not just mud either, it’s being out in the garden on your hands and knees in the dewy grass, it’s rubbing your fingers over bark and it’s getting those sensory moments that you really can’t grab in the virtual realm of our pal, Le iPad.
I’ve teamed up with Persil to have a look at their new Wilderness Explorers app, challenging us to get OUT of the house and explore the world around us. To indulge our inner mud monsters and splash in puddles to a degree that would make Peppa proud. The app has tonnes of suggestions of how we can really get back in touch with nature, but not in that pretentious “take your offspring to a mountain spring in the middle of nowhere to embrace their wild side” kind of way, HELL no, that just doesn’t work outside of Instagram. No the Persil app just gives you what I like to call the “mum mate suggestion” – she know how impossible it is to go hiking through mountain territory with a baby and a toddler when you have hardly got the energy to hike to the coffee machine. She knows that the school run gives you time constraints, but weekends really need to be full days or you will simply go insane and start drinking wine from the bottle at 3pm with your “loungewear” – which we all know is code for pjs – on. In the same way that the mum mate would know this, so does Persil. Which is why the app is neatly broken down into categories to help you pick the wilderness activity that says “I don’t have the car and my baby slept for 4.2mins” or “Please get me out of this house before the dirty dishes threaten to envelope us”. Want option one? Pick “on my doorstep” and there will be a whole host of ideas for things the kids can crack on with, without you having to go more than a stroll, and on the flip, for a full day out change the timescale to the appropriate amount of time and select by a river or woodland.
I suppose really you can think of this app as a pro-dirt Pinterest with fewer clicks and a better understanding of what children (and slightly less craft-able parents) really want from a bit of exploration. On top of making the grubby life easily accessible for everyone, Persil have then gone one step further and listed activities under age too. Let’s face it, none of us want to explain how to do 12 year old’s stuff to a 2 year old, geez I barely get half of what 12 year olds are doing so how would Edith?!
Going back to my original point (anyone noticed I’m a bit of a rambler?) getting out is good for you, physically and mentally, it’s also good for your kids, but this will give you that extra edge that you need to feel you aren’t just frolicking around the woods like something out of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but with toddlers instead of lovers chasing after you.
I’ve said it once this week, and I’ll say it again: get out, explore, let your kids learn in the great outdoors. Build mud pies in the garden, collect leaves for leaf impressions… just get out, and take your pocket sized mum chum with you.
H x
*In collaboration with Persil
Sounds like a good app. I think its important to get kids out and about exploring getting muddy and having lots of fun.
I totally agree with you. Yes we don’t want to live in mud but at the same time it won’t harm us to get a bit muddy when we’re out and about x
I agree with every word. I hate these mums what are constantly wiping their kids faces because there’s a little bit of dirty on it. I believe dirty children are happy children! xx
I spent so many days playing in the mud, making mud pies lol, picking up worms and woodlouse. Getting dirty playing football etc. I just knew that when I come in, I had to wash my hands and make sure things were clean. I’m a germaphobe when it comes to when people don’t protect their coughing and sneezing ugh – or do it over me. That I can’t stand.
Kids have to play in mud, it’s good. healthy fun and they love it!
My little ones love to be outside and love exploring and looking at creepy crawlies and digging though dirt. I think they need to be exposed to germs a bit more as otherwise it can lower their bodies immunity.
Totally agree, there is nothing wrong with a mud pie and some worms at times. We have friends who have children and their home is honestly so pristine, it is quite weird, not a finger print in sight!
I completely agree with you, going out is so beneficial for you and a little mud never hurt anyone! x
I totally agree with you, people are too clean these days, I mean good standard of hygiene is always needed but, when it comes to obliterating bacteria, you sometimes take out the good ones that we need.
Yea you are a bit of a rambler, but I like reading your ramblings. Fab post as always. I use Persil and love it.
I totally agree – a bit of muck never hurt anyone. We are just too clean these days!
I honestly don’t think there’s anything better than getting outside and exploring xx
I totally agree with this! I am all for letting my kids explore and getting dirty. I loved doing that as a kid!