Bare feet or Footwear. What’s the best?

Toddlers

What we do know for sure, is when our children wear shoes the distance between each step will get a little longer and their walking pace will also get a little faster. So while our Toddlers navigate the balancing act of beginning their upright journey, the general consensus is to allow them plenty of bare foot time. Our children receive lots of neural messages from the base of their feet. It is thought that in toddlers varying the surfaces their feet touch will develop their sensory experience. Its sensory overload at this age, and the feet get involved in that uptake too!

Footwear provides a valid protective function in toddlers when surfaces place them at risk of injury. For example with hot surfaces, too rough and spikey surfaces shoes are recommended. As parents we are constantly monitoring that balance between danger and discovery for our children. We use shoes for protection at this age.

Age 3 and above

Ooh aren’t we a clever walker! By 3 our children are really starting to cruise. Heel strike pattern kicks in and they are experiencing so many more fun filled activities. Generally our children wear shoes a little bit more now. Influenced mainly my social and daily activities. Day care, Kinder, Primary school , all have outside activities that require the protective element of footwear.

As children continue to develop their footwear selection becomes more specific based on their level of activity. Sports they choose. Schools they attend. Dare I say, what’s in Fashion! ha ha… we have all given in on this one at times! All these options will influence what collection of shoes each child will be exposed too. Kicking those shoes off when we get home for some “free the feet” time is still a valid option for an older child. But what if they have pain?

Complicates things for sure! Functional changes to gait, that aid in relieving lower limb and foot pain is where an orthotic may help inside shoes. Both for more aggressive loads in sports and everyday footwear.

I hope this info makes to shoe or not to shoe a little easier to navigate. If you have any further questions click to my contacts page and don’t hesitate to ask.