Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/wonder-the-joy-of-mud!/5026190/
*Find photos of mud day celebrations around the globe in the pdf version of this article.
“Mud play and the wonder and joy associated with it are the stuff that fabulous childhood memories are made of!”
—Michelle Rupiper
“We believe it’s important for educators to allow enough time each day for children to explore freely in nature-based spaces.”
—NACC Universal Principles for Connecting Children with Nature
e.e. cummings famously quipped,
“The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful!” The joyful faces in these photos from just a few of the International Mud Day celebrations around the world prove his point. NACC’s Universal Principles for Connecting Children with Nature include providing time for children to explore freely in nature-based settings, and what could be more freeing than exploring the very stuff of which our earth is made? That sense of joy even gets a neurological boost from a mud-residing bacteria called Mycobacterium Vaccae which releases serotonin in our brains, a neurotransmitter that soothes, calms, and helps us to relax. Whether it oozes right out of the mud, or comes from letting go and getting dirty, mud is magic.
Looking for a joyful boost in your day right now? Search #wfmudday or #internationalmudday to ...