When raising children, we are faced with a huge responsibility. So much depends on the decisions we make in relation to the development of our children. Some of these can be extremely difficult, all the more so because there is disagreement among parents and also among scientists on many issues. One of these is whether toddlers’ feet should be protected by buying children’s shoes or whether we would do better to let children go barefoot. Here are some facts in favour of not condemning our children’s feet to traditional children’s shoes.
Going barefoot or children’s shoes?
In 2018, the scientific publication Frontiers in Pediatrics published an article showing a strong link between barefoot walking and human development. The impact of barefoot raising children on the proper development of the sense of balance and motor skills has been proven.
What this means in practice is that children who walk barefoot more often develop better and perform higher in sports. Further research shows that toddlers raised barefoot concentrate and learn more easily – outperforming their peers whose shoes are worn on a daily basis in their mental development.
Rae Pica – a child development specialist – explains why this is the case:
“…feet are one of the most innervated parts of the body, which means they
they contribute to neurological pathways in the brain.
Enclosing them in shoes therefore means partially depriving the body of the
the opportunity to form new neural connections.”
This is particularly true for children up to the age of eight, as by this age most of a child’s motor and mental abilities are developed.
Natural Child Magazine published an article by Dr Kacie Flegal, who states that children raised barefoot are better at learning maths, languages, as well as problem solving, building interpersonal relationships and managing emotions.
Baby shoes – why is it sometimes worth giving them up?
First of all, it is worth knowing that stimulating the foot receptors supports the proper development and functioning of the internal organs. Children’s footwear that limits contact between the feet and the ground can cause less nerve stimuli to reach the child’s brain. In addition, the feet of a child who is not wearing shoes are better supplied with blood and oxygen, and this has a positive effect on the functioning of the whole organism.
Going barefoot is recommended for children by the US National Institute of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics, whose experts also confirm that children’s shoes should be manufactured according to the barefoot trend.
Innovative children’s shoes – barefoot shoes
Barefoot shoes, also known as minimalist footwear, are an invention of recent years. They are not yet very widespread, although parents aware of the health-promoting benefits of barefoot walking are slowly being converted to them.
In our part of Europe, the culture of barefoot walking is practically non-existent. Shoes are so much a part of the social norm that it is difficult to live and bring up children completely without footwear. This is also influenced by the climate and living conditions in cities. However, shoe manufacturers have a solution for parents who want their children to benefit from going barefoot in all circumstances. This is the innovative barefoot shoe.
What are the characteristics of barefoot children’s shoes?
The premise of such footwear, is that the person wearing it should feel as if they are barefoot, and at the same time that their feet are protected from cuts or bacteria. Adequate space on the front of the barefoot shoe allows the toes to sit comfortably on the ground while walking, and does not hinder their natural growth. The upper of the minimalist shoes is extremely soft and breathable, while the sole is flexible, flat and only a few millimetres thick. As a result, the child can clearly feel what ground he or she is stepping on and provides new sensory stimuli with every step.
You can purchase barefoot footwear for your little ones by, among other things, going to the children’s shoes page in our shop.
Sources:
https://www.yourmodernfamily.com/barefoot-kids/
https://www.raepica.com/2017/09/barefoot-benefits-brain-development-2018/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2018.00115/full
http://naturalchildmagazine.com/1210/barefoot-babies.htm
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