Walking barefoot is much more than a pleasant feeling underfoot. For children it can be a key part of their physical and mental development 🥰. At Feroz we champion the natural benefits of going barefoot and we'd like to share with you why it's so good for little ones. Will you join us?
📑 In this article
- Foot development
- Arch formation
- Better stability
- Brain development
- Stimulates the nervous system
- Balance and coordination
- Strengthens joints and improves posture
- Improves blood circulation
- Connection with the natural world
- Development of intelligence
- Creativity and imagination
- Which myths about going barefoot should be put to rest?
- Should I put shoes on my baby?
Foot development
When bare, feet aren't restricted 👣, which lets the toes spread and the foot adapt to different surfaces, while building up its function and strength.
Arch formation
The arch of the foot, the foot's bridge, forms more efficiently when little ones walk barefoot, as this makes the foot muscles work harder to support the body's weight, helping to create and maintain a natural arch. This is vital for avoiding problems such as flat feet. 💪
Better stability
Direct contact with the ground helps children develop better proprioception, an awareness of their body in relation to the space around them, which improves their ability to stay steady 🤩, especially on uneven surfaces, where the foot has to adapt quickly to keep its balance.
Brain development
Yes, walking barefoot benefits the brain too! 🤯 It stimulates a wide range of sensory receptors in the feet, which contributes to brain development. Every new texture and temperature sends signals that help build more complex neural connections, something key to cognitive development.
Stimulates the nervous system
The wide variety of stimuli received when walking barefoot encourages a much richer response from the nervous system. This improves little ones' overall responsiveness and heightens their sensitivity and sensory perception, which are fundamental to all-round development in childhood. 👍
Balance and coordination
Encouraging children to walk barefoot helps refine their balance and coordination, especially when they first start walking, as it means they use their own body and reflexes more intensely to find their way around the world without the support of shoes. In turn, this boosts their self-confidence 💪.
Strengthens joints and improves posture
Without being shut inside shoes, little ones' feet and legs develop naturally, which helps the body stay better aligned and their posture be healthier 😍. In this way, the feet become a solid base for supporting the weight of the rest of the body.
Improves blood circulation
Not wearing shoes or socks that squeeze the foot already helps blood flow better, but walking barefoot also increases circulation in the feet and legs, as the action of those little feet 👣 against the ground works like a natural massage.
Connection with the natural world
Being in direct contact with the earth and different textures (wooden floors, tiles, grass, sand, soil, tarmac) gives little ones a deeper connection with the environment 🌍 and encourages a relationship of respect and care for nature from an early age.
Development of intelligence
Some studies suggest that walking barefoot helps develop greater intelligence during the most important years of growth, because active exploration and interaction with different surfaces boost kinaesthetic intelligence and spatial intelligence 🏞️, helping children understand their surroundings better.
Creativity and imagination
The freedom of movement that going barefoot allows inspires children to invent new games and explore the world in creative ways. Feeling the ground directly and its different textures (cold, warm, smooth, rough…) helps spark ideas and stimulates the imagination 🤩.
Which myths about going barefoot should be put to rest?
We all heard it as children: "Put your slippers on or you'll catch a cold!". Fortunately, today we know that colds don't come in through the feet, so we can let children go barefoot knowing it won't make them ill. Too cold? 👣 Try some socks, which keep little feet from getting cold without cutting them off from what's around them. And here are some other myths worth putting to rest:
- Walking barefoot does NOT cause damage or deformities ❌. Quite the opposite: the natural step is the one taken without shoes, so it helps establish walking properly and maintain better posture.
- Walking barefoot is NOT a health hazard ❌. Letting feet touch the ground doesn't spread infections, except in unhygienic places where you'd never leave your baby anyway.
- Walking barefoot is NOT only safe indoors ❌. With some precautions (avoiding sharp objects or very rough surfaces), your baby can enjoy the garden or the patio barefoot.
- Walking barefoot is NOT just for young children ❌. It has as many benefits for adults as it does for little ones.
Should I put shoes on my baby?
As shoemakers, we ought to say yes, but you know our philosophy is different: we think about little ones' wellbeing 🥰 and about supporting their healthy development, and for that the best thing is to hold off on shoes until they're really needed: when they start taking their first little steps. If you'd like to read more, we have a full post on when to put shoes on a baby.
At Feroz we believe that understanding and practising going barefoot from an early age is a gift children will carry with them for life ❤️. Give it a go and explore together, with the world at your feet!
