Can dirt be good for our kids?

A new study shows that a bacteria commonly found in soil can help improve learning and reduce anxiety.

Professors Dorothy Matthews and Susan Jenks of The Sage Colleges in Troy, New York recently presented the findings of their study, Effect of Mycobacterium vaccae on Learning, at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego.

Research
The research involved feeding the bacteria to mice and seeing how they performed in a challenging maze. The mice who ate food with the bacteria on it were able to figure out the maze twice as fast as those in the control group. They also showed less anxious behavior. Even weeks after the mice stopped snacking on the live bacterium, they still knew how to get through the maze. Three weeks later, the effect seemed to taper off, but since mice only live for about two years, the results were still impressive to researchers.

This research is especially interesting because it shows how germs may play a role in reducing anxiety and enhancing learning, which seems so counter-intuitive to many parents who spend much of their time worrying about their children being exposed to dirt and germs.

What this Means for Parents

Mycobacterium vaccae is a type of bacteria found in soil that we tend to ingest or breathe in while spending time outdoors in the natural environment. Children do not need to actually eat the dirt to reap its benefits. Professor Matthews suggests that spending time outdoors and interacting with nature--taking a walk in the woods, playing or gardening--may improve the way children learn and help reduce their anxiety as well.

There has been alot of concern in recent years about children with "nature deficit disorder" (term coined by Richard Louv in his book Last Child in the Woods). This research is just another reminder (using scientific proof) that children should spend more time outside learning about and enjoying nature.

How do you incorporate nature and outdoor play into your child's routine?