Barefoot and Having Fun
As some of you may have noticed, after learning about how beneficial walking barefoot is, we are allowing the preschoolers to go barefoot on our playground. We started allowing the students to take off their shoes just in the sandbox and now have extended that to allowing them to walk around the playground without shoes. The Swing set structure is the only exception. For safety reasons, we have them wear their shoes on the structure. If you have concerns about this, please read the information below. I have also included the link to the whole article if you are interested. If you're still not convinced about the benefits of going barefoot, and you would like your child to wear shoes at all time, please let me know.
The benefits of letting toddlers walk barefoot
Wearing shoes affects everything from our gait and posture and foot development to the strength of our foot's arch. For example, we have scientific evidence to suggest that flat feet are far more common in children who usually wear shoes, than those who don’t. We also know the critical period for the development of the arch is before age six. This means that walking barefoot is especially important during early childhood.
But it's not just about children's feet — barefoot play affects brain development too.
With children, walking barefoot can:
- Improve motor skills. A 2018 study of children in Germany and South Africa suggests that barefoot play can contribute to improved motor skills, particularly when it comes to balance and jumping.
- Prevent injuries. People who go barefoot or wear minimalist shoes develop wider feet, which helps distribute the weight of the body more evenly and may prevent injuries.
- Strengthen children's feet. Conventional footwear can weaken the muscles in the foot, whereas going barefoot or minimally shod strengthens them, supporting normal gait, one 2018 study shows.
- Build new neural connections. Going barefoot stimulates thousands of nerve endings in the feet and activates the vestibular and proprioceptive systems in children's brains. This helps children orient their bodies in space, and develop skills like balance and coordination.
Addressing risks and concerns about going barefoot
A common concern about young children walking barefoot is the risk of infection from bacteria and viruses in the ground.
In reality, children are far more likely to pick up an infection when they stick their fingers in their mouth and nose, rather than through their feet. Plus, the dark, moist environment of a shod foot is more conducive to fungal and bacterial growth than bare feet. The skin itself is a natural barrier protecting against infection, and the more a child walks barefoot, the tougher the skin becomes. This also decreases the risk of injury from cuts.
Link to the article that the above information came from:
Barefoot play boosts children's brains and bodies | Famly
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