Daycares in Finland Built a 'Forest Floor', And It Changed Children's Immune Systems

[Ron Obvious]

Makes sense to me. I've always believed in the hygiene hypothesis: Kids' immune systems need a workout when they're growing up or else they'll develop auto-immune disorders as their immune systems turn against their own bodies for lack of anything else to attack.

When daycare workers in Finland rolled out a lawn, planted forest undergrowth such as dwarf heather and blueberries, and allowed children to care for crops in planter boxes, the diversity of microbes in the guts and on the skin of young kids appeared healthier in a very short space of time.

Compared to other city kids who play in standard urban daycares with yards of pavement, tile and gravel, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds at these greened-up daycare centres in Finland showed increased T-cells and other important immune markers in their blood within 28 days.

"We also found that the intestinal microbiota of children who received greenery was similar to the intestinal microbiota of children visiting the forest every day," says environmental scientist Marja Roslund from the University of Helsinki.

https://www.sciencealert.com/daycares-in-finland-built-a-backyard-forest-and-it-changed-children-s-immune-systems

[Arkansas Granny]

1. This has always made sense to me. I realize that basic hygiene practices are important, but

the immune system needs something to work on if it is going to develop. That's how vaccines work, as I understand it. I know there are some who are immunocompromised, but in general, this is beneficial to most children.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. As a child, the banks of the Ohio River were my playground

Mind you, this was a time when every city discharged sewage straight into the river. I have been told since that my immune system is phenomenal. When I got the hepatitis B vaccine, a subsequent blood test showed a response 10X stronger than others who got it at the same time.

[oregonjen]

3. As a former preschool teacher, I completely agree

I learned this during my years as a preschool teacher. So many reasons outdoor in the dirt digging/playing is a must for young children. Picking one’s nose is another yucky, but immune system building activity. 😀

[Lars39]

5. We used to make mud pies

from scratch

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. Did they spend all day sweeping it?

That's what Trump claims Finland does.