Should children go barefoot more time?
It is possible that if your children walk barefoot you worry that it is bad for their health, should you worry so much?
Children love to go barefoot at home, but parents worry if this could be bad for their health or if they stick something like a stone or a piece of glass because of going barefoot. Worry is normal but … is it necessary to worry so much?
There is much controversy regarding the thoughts of parents and whether or not parents should let their little ones walk around the house barefoot. Shoes help children to have stronger feet and legs and improve posture … Although this can also develop in bare feet.
The American Podiatric Medical Association does not entirely deny the benefits of children going barefoot. They claim that barefoot running has been valued to improve strength and balance, while promoting a more natural walking style. However, the risks of running barefoot include a lack of protection, which can lead to injuries such as injuries and increased stress on the lower extremities.
The use of shoes increases the reaction force of the ground to its impact, which reduces the risk of injury due to the protection provided by the footwear. However, slippery walking increases internal rotation of the tibia and can be associated with specific types of injuries. With this in mind, it is up to parents (and, if consulted, the child’s pediatrician) to weigh the risks and benefits to determine whether they want to encourage their children not to wear shoes.
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BABY’S FIRST SHOES
Despite the common liking of parents to put small slippers on children, there is no scientific evidence to conclude that babies need to wear shoes once they have learned to walk . In fact, the opposite may be true: Going barefoot helps a young child improve balance, strength, and coordination.
The only thing to consider is the temperature of the surface the child is walking on. In cold weather, something with a thin sole, like ankle boots or socks, will protect your feet from cold surfaces. Otherwise, allow the toddler to explore the texture and feel of various surfaces, be it grass, tile, sand, or carpets … your child will inform you of the textures he likes best.
THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CHILD
Studies have found that people have healthier feet before they start wearing shoes regularly. Common commercial footwear is unhealthy for people’s (adult) shoes. Children’s shoes should change as the child’s foot grows, so it must adjust to the shape of the shoe. Allowing your feet to develop naturally means that you will need to go barefoot at certain times of the day.
POSSIBLE SHOE PROBLEMS
The biggest problem with children’s shoes is their stiffness. A child likes to run freely, climb trees, and not stop moving. There is very little slope or elasticity in the sole of a child’s shoe. Lack of direct contact with the running or climbing surface can also cause problems, for example not being able to connect with the pull of a tree branch, which can cause the child to slip and fall.
The shoes maladjusted and improper use can also cause ingrown toenails and structural problems at the foot of a child. And the inappropriate use of shoes that do not allow drying could lead to foot fungus.
BALANCING BAREFOOT TIME WITH SHOE TIME
Even the biggest advocates of going barefoot understand that there are some places where children should probably wear shoes, although it’s worth noting that the more barefoot a child goes, the more natural protection their feet will have from hazards, although they probably aren’t. nails or screws.
If you want to leave your children barefoot, you will have to find the balance in this way:
-Instruct your child to wear shoes when walking around dangerous places such as around swimming pools, locker rooms or anywhere where they can hurt themselves.
-You must have the tetanus vaccine in place
-Insist that your child put sunscreen on their feet.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.