When I was a kid, my mom used to tell me not to play with mud and dirt. She would always tell me that in our body there are these so-called good bacteria and bad bacteria, and they are always in a fight. Every time we touch a muddy ground, or jumps in a puddle, or sucks our thumb, we give the bad bacteria more power to beat the good bacteria and that may cause illnesses like stomachaches, headaches, rashes, and the like. But are there any benefits also in playing with mud? Or is it something that kids should avoid all the time?

According to some recent studies, mud play is a vital outdoor activity that gives a lot of benefits to children. It basically increases their physical and mental activity, builds their creativity, and in some new research, stimulates happy hormones that makes them entertained and keeps them in a good mood.

（私が小さい頃は，母に「泥遊びをしないようにね」「私たちの身体には“良い菌”とバイ菌がいて，いつも戦っているのよ」と言われていました。泥んこを触ったり，水たまりの中に入ったり，指しゃぶりをしたりすると，バイ菌が“良い菌”やっつける力を与えてしまい，腹痛や頭痛，発疹などの病気になってしまうのです。果たして，泥遊びには何か良い点があるのでしょうか？それとも，子どもたちが常にしてはいけないものなのでしょうか？

最近の研究によると，泥遊びは子どもたちにたくさんの恩恵をもたらす重要な活動です。基本的な身体能力や精神力，創造性を高めます。新しい研究によると，子どもたちを楽しませ、良い気分に保つ幸せホルモンを刺激するようです。）

On the 10^th of June 2022, after their Sports Class, the Bear Class students went a little “messy”. Wearing the flip-flops that they were instructed to bring a couple of days ago, they have decided to play in the sandbox. The weather was fine. It was a hot sunny day which makes it a good day to play outside. We could see the students’ excitement in their eyes. Before playing, the teachers laid some ground rules to be followed during the playtime. Some of which are, they are not allowed to take off, burry or hide their/their friend’s flip-flops; they are not allowed to use more than two sandbox tools; and lastly, they are not allowed to throw some sand on their friends. But most of all, they should not be afraid to get messy and to have a lot of fun. The fun has started, and they began making all sorts of things. Some dug some holes. Some made ice creams and puddings. And some made mountains, volcanoes, and rivers. The playtime was even more fun when the teacher allowed them to use water that made the sand so sticky and looked like mud. The fun went on until it was time to clean up and have their lunch. Before going upstairs, the students were asked to soak their feet in a basin of water and thoroughly wash their hands to avoid bad bacteria entering their body.

（先週，Bear組の子どもたちは，体操教室の後に少し“散らかし遊び”をしました。数日前にお家から持ってきたゴムぞうりを履いて，砂場で遊びました。暑い晴れの日で，外遊びにピッタリのいい天気でしたね。子どもたちもワクワクしていましたよ。

遊ぶ前には，先生と“ゴムぞうりを脱いだり隠したりしない”“一度に使うおもちゃは２個まで”“友達に砂をかけない”ことを約束しました。しかし何よりも，子どもたちは汚れることやたくさん楽しむことを怖がってはいけません。砂遊びが始まると，いろんなものを作り始めましたよ。穴を掘ったり，アイスクリームやプリンを作ったり，山や火山，川を作ったり。先生から「水を使っていいよ」と言われてからは，さらに楽しくなりましたね！片付けの時間まで楽しみは続きました。２階のお部屋に帰る前にたらいの中で脚を洗い，バイ菌が入らないように石鹸で手をきれいに洗いました。）

Wet sand play may be messy, but it is indeed helpful and fun. It surely made them become active, creative, and happy students. As their teachers, we did not mind the mess, as they were making memories.

– Doms –

（泥遊びは少し面倒かもしれませんが，活発さや創造性を育てる楽しい経験です。先生たちは活動の中で“散らかす”経験も必要だと思っています。みんなにとって楽しい思い出になりましたか？

ドムス先生より）