From our archive: this post was first published in 2018 under our Guest Blog byline, before we stopped accepting guest posts. The Mom Store reviewed it in October 2026 for accuracy and safety and updated parts of it. It shares one parent's experience and is not medical advice; for questions about your health or your baby's health, please talk to your doctor or paediatrician. Read our editorial policy.
Can you recall the aroma of the earth right after it has rained? I am sure you can and it has already calmed your senses. Or when you mommas apply that mud pack on your face, how you feel relaxed. Some early studies, mostly in animals, suggest that Mycobacterium vaccae, a bacterium found in soil, may affect mood, though more research is needed in people. In other words it makes us feel happy. Now you know why we love sniffing that after rain aroma.
When we as adults enjoy the muddy smell, children are more inquisitive and drawn towards their instincts, therefore love playing in the mud or splashing the water in muddy puddles. These little explorations trigger their brains and imprint them with enormous essential skills like comparing, solving problems, making decisions, responding to the surroundings, releasing stress or improving hand eye coordination. It supports a child's overall development.
Why should mud play be encouraged in early years of learning?
Connecting our roots with nature
In this concrete jungle, where more or less we have become couch potatoes, it is important to connect to the roots (the 5 tatvas we are made of) and let the children explore, pretend play and develop admiration for the nature in outdoor space.
Boosting the immune system
Regular outdoor play exposes children to a wider range of everyday microbes, which researchers think may help the immune system develop, but it is still important to wash hands after play and before meals. Outdoor play also keeps children physically active, which supports healthy growth. Some research suggests early contact with varied natural environments may be linked to fewer allergies, but this is still being studied.
Unleashing the creative aspect
You must have heard of schools incorporating role plays and pottery classes in their curriculum. The reason behind it is to give wings to the imagination of the children. Mud being an open ended material provides our children of numerous ways to interpret, thus stirring social and emotional development. I have seen kids opening up, sharing their toys and exchanging creative ideas during the messy play.
Enhancing learning
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Confucius
I am sure all of you must have seen sand pits in pre- schools and schools. Have you ever wondered why?
The nature of hands-on activities is engaging the children with real object or through experiments. Believe it or not mud is more imprinting than flash cards. When a child touches wet mud or gravel it stimulates the sensory nerves in the brain and instill learning. Tracing letters in sand is a hands-on activity many children enjoy and can support early writing practice.
Creating Memories
We still have stories to tell to our children about playing in the open-ended nature, garden, splashing water on our siblings or making mud castles. Messy games help our children create happy memories and give them a healthy way to play and unwind.
As parents, we do get protective of our children, wanting to know the reason behind every activity. But children will only work out of their instincts and sensory experience , even if it means that you have to wash a muddy face or a stained dress. Embrace their curiosity and let them run wild.
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mom Store
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