The Ultimate Parents Worry: Kids Feet!
Parents’ Concerns about Kids’ Feet
Parents want the very best for their children and worrying is all part of the package deal. Education, well-being, health… All of these are top on that list of concerns. But how often do we really think about kids’ feet? Do we ever wonder if the shoes our children wear will be beneficial in the long run? Well, simply put, if we’re not buying barefoot or minimalist shoes for our kids, we’re not doing enough. But, we’ll get to that in a second.
Barefoot Shoes for Children - Professional Advice
I meet a lot of parents who are worried about their children’s feet. From the way children walk to the shape of their feet, the questions are endless. However, when I ask whether kids are left to run around barefoot, I get a lot of raised eyebrows and blank faces.
This is surprising because why would human beings be given a pair of functioning feet, just so they can be “protected” by shoes? We don’t cover children’s hands in gloves unless it’s cold, so why do we have an obsession with putting shoes on their feet all the time?
Kids’ feet are set to work barefoot. All human beings are meant to enjoy free, bare feet, but starting from a young age can be extremely helpful. Doing so will help them develop the required neural feedback and muscle strength required to keep the body upright. This brings about much more development in children’s feet including:
balancing their way through (lego) obstacles,
power the first steps
increase their run speed (which might not be a parent’s preferred activity - especially if it’s done towards the opposite side).
How to Take Care of Your Children’s Feet
Jokes apart, let your kids walk barefoot on different surfaces - let them explore. If it’s cold just place a nice warm pair of loose socks and voila’… no excuses! Also, if you’re still concerned, you can also go for barefoot or minimal shoes for kids. This will place the foot in exactly the same position as if the child is barefoot and add the layer of protection you’d want around the child’s feet.
If you still have concerns drop us a line and our in-house podiatrist will explain all of this in more detail.
