Kids need to get dirty. Organisms in dirt improve a child’s immune system.

According to a recent article by Jane Brody in the NY Times, researchers are saying that kids need to spend time more in the dirt and that the millions of bacteria, viruses, and especially worms that enter the body along with “dirt” spur the development of a healthy immune system. The studies suggest that our obsession with keeping kids clean may in part explain why immune system disorders like asthma and allergies and even multiple sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes, have risen significantly. This trend is happening in developing countries as well as the U.S. Some doctors believe that the current emphasis on antibacterial products convey a false sense of security for parents and may foster the development of disease-causing bacteria. Plain soap and water are all that kids need to be clean. Psychologists and sociologists also suggest that kids should play more outdoors. Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods,” claims that spending too much time in front of a screen, and not enough time outdoors, is resulting in more behavioral problems in children. So now that the cold weather is moderating . . get those kids outside!