Let Your Kids Get Dirty, Even If You're A Neat Freak Like Me

13 hours agoMost parents fall into one of two camps: the happy-go-lucky one that allows their child to get messy, and the one that avoids messy play at all costs. Personally, I’m the latter — but secretly want to be part of the former. I've always envied parents who embrace partaking in messy activities with their kids. I could never quite put my finger on why something as ostensibly fun as baking with my toddlers, for example, causes me to cringe inside.

Some may say my aversion to messy play makes me a clean freak. And while I can't dispute that, I know there are other parents who are also struggling with wanting to let their kids explore, but in a contained way that allows for more joy than stress.messy. Between marinara-stained floors and filled-to-the-brim toy shelves, you, like I, probably have enough on your plate as it is.

I've also realized that I don't have to love seeing my kids play in dirt, but I do need to live with it. Yes, they will get messy. Yes, their clothes will get stained. For me, what makes it worth it is seeing the pure joy on their faces as they discover insects in their natural habitat, or the look of curiosity as they ask me where the water they've just poured into a pile of dirt disappeared to.

among children could, in part, be explained by depriving them of these nature-based experiences. But by giving them the opportunity to get messy, you're allowing them to create meaningful experiences and explore their surroundings through seeing, touching, and feeling.This is a big one, especially if you're new to the whole letting-your-kids-get-messy thing.

Nature-based play allows children to challenge their senses and engage in different skills, but for a clean-obsessed parent, it can be difficult to sit back and watch a mess ensue. While you may still have to clean dirt from underneath your toddler's fingernails afterward, these tips ensure the mess is managed, and everybody has a good time — including you.is a freelance wellness and lifestyle writer with bylines at PureWow, InStyle, USA Today, Huffington Post, Byrdie, and more.

I don’t abandon hope, I just know when to schedule the cleaning

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