How Does A Dirty House Affect A Child? An unkempt home can be a breeding ground for bacteria and disease. Kids playing in the dirt and crawling on the floor, dogs, and cats tracking in grime, and leftover food lurking around might not be pleasant to adults, but kids can’t get enough of it. They feel at ease when they’re surrounded by their messes because it feels “lived-in.”
While parents try to avoid these dirty conditions by cleaning their home frequently, sometimes this is just an impossible task. There are many more ways that dirt affects children than just making them dirty throughout the day; here, we’ll explore how it impacts their emotional state and physical health:
Children who live in a clean environment are less stressed. When children live in dirty conditions, they can become easily agitated and nervous about their surroundings.
For example, when there is dirt all over the floor, dust on the bookshelf, or crumbs everywhere, this can be very stressful for children because it’s not what they’re used to seeing.
It is even more frustrating when parents try to keep things clean but cannot maintain these standards around the house.
Studies have shown that a child living in a home with a mite infestation will suffer from allergies at a higher rate than other kids who live in homes without mites. Dirt is one of the most common carriers of mites and bacteria.
Additionally, germs can live on toys and household items for months. So when kids put dirty hands in their mouth or touch the floor before washing their hands after playing with a toy, they are putting themselves at risk of getting sick.
Children who live in a home where there is dirt and clutter everywhere suffer from disorganization and anxiety because it is distracting to them. They have trouble concentrating because they are so used to being surrounded by messes that it becomes normal to them.
Without realizing it, this lack of attention span impacts school performance because if children cannot focus long enough to complete certain tasks, they will not receive good grades or do well on tests.
When there is dust, hair, dirt, toys, clothing, or any other item in places where it doesn’t belong, it causes stress for parents when they have to clean up. It can be exhausting to constantly try to keep things in order in a messy home all the time because even though parents are trying their hardest to stay on top of it, sometimes it’s impossible.
As adults who may entertain guests at home from time to time, know how frustrating it can be when you have to clean your house thoroughly before people arrive. Having an unkempt home makes giving visitors a good impression difficult. When there is dirt and grime everywhere, it’s hard to remain clean and sanitary for guests.
The more families fight over the state of the household and who will do certain chores, the less time they can spend enjoying each other’s company. If everything in a home requires effort before children are allowed to play with it or use it, then their parents are constantly nagging them about cleaning up after themselves.
So instead of spending valuable family time together doing activities, kids are often sitting around watching their parent’s clean house or waiting for them to finish so they can start playing together as a family again.
Dirty, cluttered homes often have a higher level of allergens because things are not properly stored or cleaned regularly. This causes the air quality to be full of irritants that make it difficult for people who live there to sleep well at night.
When kitchens and dining areas are covered with dirt, chemicals from food, and other contaminants, cooking becomes an even bigger challenge than it already is. If children put their dirty fingers in their mouths as they eat, this also puts them at risk of getting sick from germs being transferred into their bodies.
Cleaning costs add up, and if you are paying someone else to do it, then that is time and money out of pocket. You may even have to replace some items due to how dirty they become from sitting in a home without proper storage or cleaning.
A messy home can be challenging for adults and children, but when there are pets around, the task is made even harder because pet fur gets everywhere, and some animals like dogs will eat things on floors while others like cats may use furniture as their scratching posts, which ruins them easily.
Germs spread quicker in homes where there is dirt all over the place. If people are constantly getting sick, then that puts stress on the entire family because someone usually has to miss work or school to rest and recover.
When pets roam around freely without being trained to do their business outside, the open doors make it easier for bugs, insects, and other animals to come inside as well, which can leave the home infested with parasites if proper containment measures are not taken. This can cause dangerous circumstances because these pests carry diseases that lead to illnesses in humans, whether they ingest them or get bitten by them.
Toys and games in a messy home often get covered with dirt and germs, so the children who play there are at greater risk of getting sick. They can also injure themselves when they fall on an unkempt floor or use unhygienic toys that were not properly cleaned before being used by someone else.
It is quite frustrating to live in a dirty house that does not appear as you reside there. That is why everyone needs to clean their homes regularly, especially if they have children because their health will be affected even more than yours due to their young age.
If it becomes too much and your family members do not help out enough, talk to them about what needs to change. If they are not willing to do it, then you may need a professional cleaning company‘s help for your home to be clean and free of dirt.