The rainy season is synonyms to piping hot tea, slow mornings, and jump in a puddle.
Sadly, every time we jump in a puddle, we get few scrunched noses or oh-no voices in the backdrop. Well-meaning people around us who are misinformed, I guess, do exist. To think of it I don’t remember many children who have ever joined Penguin who are allowed to jump in a puddle. Most parents or caregivers tend to have a different notion about “puddles”. I am not totally against their view but I do not understand why most people avoid it every single time. One might choose to skip it if he or she is donning a really expensive outfit or are running late for some business. Yet often do choose to jump in a puddle.
Two years ago, when Penguin was introduced to rain he was in awe of nature. He was blown away with the coolness of breeze and spark in lightening. Last year, he used to request me to put on raincoat and boots to jump in puddles. Every time, we used to go downstairs in our society he would love catching rain and float paper boats. This year he is waiting for rain eagerly. Watching clouds floating he would sing on “I hear thunder” or “Rain, rain, go away”. As pre-monsoon is already here, he goes on jumping -splashing puddles.
So, here I bring 5 reasons to jump in that muddy muddy puddle.
5 reasons why kids should jump in a puddle
1. Bend some rules
There is no denying we set some boundaries with due freedom for our kids especially crawlers, walkers, and runners in house. When we go outdoors, let’s bend some rules. Let them enjoy nature and explore it. Allow them to happily jump, run and destress. Studies say that outdoor play is one of the best ways to utilize a toddler’s energy. Let them jump, roll and laugh when in the lap of nature. Including jumping in the puddle.
2. Learn few major skills
- Estimation – splash the puddle and get a mental estimate of depth, volume of water content, etc.
- Measuring – kids to learn a difference between large and small-sized puddle naturally.
- Motor skills – jump, kick, need to say more?
- Prediction – a skill that can be lifesaving in the future, the reaction time and prediction of the next course of action.
- Spatial awareness – the awareness to understand and interact with the environment
3. Build up immunity
Playing in the dirt and muddy puddles build immunity. This is not a mother’s words rather proved by research studies. Contrary to popular notion, Hygiene hypothesis, excessive hygiene leads to an abrupt decline in natural exposure to all sorts of microbes. So, when a child interacts with the environment the microbes present help to balance immune responses. Less illness and stronger immunity would lead to a happier childhood.
4. Engage in physical exercise
Kids never need gym because play is their exercise. All that jumping, kicking, thumping and gross motor movements strengthen their muscles. Puddles give them a perfect opportunity to splash some water, stomp like an elephant and jump all day. A growing child needs this kind of exposure. As prolonged sessions of inactivity are not encouraging to their muscular development.
5. Color their imagination
A pirate lover can imagine an island in those puddles while another might just give their cars a reason for a wash. Leave kids to imagine the puddles in endless ways. One might just choose to mindfully watch his reflection and floating clouds. Alternatively, one might weave a story of a frog jumping around. The world needs creative people and those who can communicate with nature. Give children a chance to be there while you join in their play or just watch them.
Do you know May 4th is celebrated as National Puddle Day in Canada in honor of young lives that were cut too short?
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Loved all the reasons to let kids enjoy puddle. With kids, let us also join the puddle jump. 🙂
Wow that’s awesome, who don’t want to jump in muddy puddles. And when you know it has so many benefits they why not enjoy full on
Glad you echo my thoughts, Neha. Thank you.
I didnt know about Puddle day in Canada and great points atleast the kiddos will be very happy reading this post.
Thank you 🙂
This is very true that we are restricting out kids to play in mud but we really don’t know that this mud had number of minerals in it and how playing in mud effect a baby’s mind. Very genuine points you have raised.
That’s true Bhawna. Thanks for stopping by.
You have very well explained the means for a child to enjoy nature to the fullest.
Thank you. Just like your monsoon poems nature need to be embraced.
Yeh i was waiting for this post
Jumping in puddles was my favorite work during rains
You are a great mother definitely
Salute a mom like you
Nice post
Thanks for the appreciation Anurag ji, but I am just like all moms. This was an expression of my thoughts as I find very few kids jumping on puddles.
Loved your post, Pragnya. Now I would say that every parent should read this post and understand that sometimes it’s good to let kids enjoy the way they want to. Putting boundaries is not always a good idea and parents must look at the brighter side too.
Hope more parents agree on that.:)
I liked your post, especially in times where every parent is going extra cautious about their kids. We jumped in the puddle and we turned out decent. right!
Exactly my point :D. Thanks for reading Manas
Wow what a interesting post. I am totally agree with the reasons mentioned by you in the post.
Thank you dear
I like the reasons you have given here. Now we should start jumping into puddles too.
Yay! You got all reasons. Thanks for reading Snigdha!
These are some amazing pointers. Nowadays kids don’t get the kind of upbringing we had. My son is so cleanliness freak that he never jumps in puddles. He would jump at home or bathroom though and enjoy the spash of water.
Jumping in puddles gives our kids a reason to celebrate their ‘new life’:)
Loved your post!
Thank you Aditi. Glad you liked it.
Maybe its a phase Gunjan. My Penguin was like that when we started. Thanks for stopping by.
What a coincidence that Today I also wrote about a similar topic. Why kids should enjoy rains being outside!! My son is crazy about rain. I literally have to stop him from getting drenched. He loves to get wetted, jump in puddles and just dance. Two days back only, he started roaming outside of the our house when it started raining, and seeing his happiness other kids of locality also joined him. They had a gala time with enjoying the rain.
#6 its fun! At least that’s what I’ve learnt from Peppa Pig 😀
Yesssss! Total fun. Thanks for #6 Mahak 😀
Love the post , i went nostalgic reading this . i jumped a lot in puddles
What a sweet and simple post.. I re collect my childhood, jumping in the puddle.. I ain’t stoping kiaan
Thanks for reading Swathi
Wow, so we have all the valid reasons to jump in puddles now.
Loved the imaginations, and glad to know of the motor and major skills kids get to learn.
Sometimes its best to leave kids to do whatever they wish to. It helps them learn a lot on their own and be independent at an early age. Instead most of the parents choose to be overprotective and nag the kids away and make them dependent. Later they expect independence from them, its so unfair. Every parent should read this post. Thanks for sharing. Great post. Loved it. 😊🤗
Unknowing parents in their over protectiveness are making the next gen dependent ones.
Yes, we have 🙂 . Thanks for stopping by Pragun.
Great post and I love the reasons listed by you for kids to jump in muddy puddles.
Just came back from a rainy outing. I love how my little one enjoy monsoons. Definitely we need to ease a little and enjoy every littlle thing kids do in rains. Jumping in puddles is so much fun.
Exactly my thoughts Mann.
Thanks Shubhra!
Quite a unique post. I agree with the reasons mentioned, in fact, the whole post.
Thank you Sonia.
Loved your unique response to prompt dear. as a parent, sometimes we become overprotective, and does not allow our kids to play in muddy puddles. you had shared some great points and I agree with all of them. #GWNxTNM
We are doing things wrong with over-protectiveness, thanks for stopping by Surbhi
This post is thoroughly unique and you present some cogent reasons to jump in puddles! Love it!
Glad you like it, Noor
What a delight to read your posts.. Simply loved it… Seriously we should ourselves live our life and tell our kids to live each moment…
What a fresh take on muddy puddles.. so unique.. I never realised that middle puddles can teach life skills too!!! Loved reading this post!!! Thank you 🙂
National puddle day..wow. never heard of it. Jumping in the puddles is not just a monsoon activity but it brings us close to mother nature. You have weaved your post beautifully around the prompt.
Thank you Alpana. National Puddle Day started in a school at Mount Hope to remember the student(s) who left the world too early.
Thank you Arushi.
Thank you so much Kushal.
This is so good! Its true that children if will be in more contact with the environment, they will be more immune to it and will grow healthy in future.
Glad you echo my thoughts, Anoushka.
This is awesome. Peppa pig is known for living the puddles. So are we. We enjoy rainy season especially the puddles and paper boats. Such a great take on prompt Pragnya.
Thank you.