Who can remember being outdoors building dens, climbing trees, making perfumes from leaves and flowers or playing with mud, stones or water? These types of childhood outdoor play experiences have been declining over time and children today are therefore having much less contact with the natural world.

The first EITP  Playmatters play briefing sheet for 2019 ‘Playing with nature, mud and getting dirty’ aims to help parents consider the importance of letting children have contact with the natural world including their exposure to bacteria and germs and indeed, playing with mud, making a mess and getting dirty!

Please do circulate our Play Matters materials as widely as possible, especially amongst parents (including on social media #playmatters)