Is It Good to Let Children Walk Barefoot in the House?
Letting children walk barefoot in the house is something that parents are normally completely against. In this article, we’ll take the opportunity to talk about whether or not it’s good for the child, and what our attitude towards it should be.
In the same way that we wear clothes to protect ourselves from the cold, we use shoes to make our lives easier and also because of the protection they give our feet.
As you’ve probably noticed, children don’t think twice about taking off their shoes as soon as they get home and walking around the house barefoot.
This happens all the time and the explanation is simple: footwear annoys them and deprives them of their freedom.
Is it good to let the children walk barefoot around the house?
Experts assure us that walking on the beach is very good for our feet, and the same applies at home. We’re now going to show you just why it’s good to let children walk barefoot at home.
You may be surprised because, contrary to what you might think, it’s actually very positive for their health!
1. Develops healthy feet
People who walk barefoot often have healthier feet than those who wear shoes frequently. The reason for this is that shoes provide the perfect conditions for fungi and bacteria to flourish. They’re warm, moist and dark.
A tight shoe pinches the toes of their tiny feet and can also affect the skin, as well as causing painful infections.
2. Stronger feet
When the child walks or runs with shoes on, their feet are protected. However, when they go without shoes, all the bones of their feet, as well as the soft tissues of the muscles, tendons and ligaments are exposed.
Going barefoot strengthens these areas and also results in stronger feet in general. Another advantage is that it can improve posture and balance.
3. Helps their balance
Walking barefoot helps children develop good posture and also increases balance. In fact, experts have discovered that young children hold their heads higher when they walk barefoot.
It also nourishes, strengthens and promotes agility in the feet, ankles, legs, knees, hips, hamstrings and gluteal muscles. All these parts of a child’s body are growing at that age.
This is because walking barefoot allows children to feel the contours of the ground as they walk. Because of this, they’re more likely to adjust their movements because of having more direct contact with the floor.
4. Develops body awareness
Walking without shoes on connects children more directly with their environment, while increasing awareness of their entire body. When they walk barefoot, children develop muscle strength, spatial orientation, balance and coordination.
“Shoes provide the perfect conditions for fungi and bacteria to flourish: they’re warm, wet and dark”
5. Improves their senses
If children wear shoes or socks, they feel the same no matter what surface they’re walking on. By walking barefoot, they’ll feel the different surfaces in a special way, such as the cold tiles in the bathroom or the grass in the garden.
Letting your child’s feet experience these sensations will give him the opportunity to develop a real awareness of his surroundings.
6. Helps them learn to walk
Surprisingly, shoes can distort the way children learn to walk. When they wear shoes with padded soles, they’re more likely to pound their heels against the ground instead of walking gently.
In addition, shoes have a front edge that causes them to raise their heels off the ground.
All this additional assistance affects the way the foot develops. It causes the muscles that play a crucial role in walking and running to weaken.
On the contrary, walking barefoot creates a perfect opportunity for children to learn to walk without any extra help.
7. Improves the nervous system
Walking barefoot stimulates the acupuncture points of the foot. This, in turn, helps stimulate the nerves and the veins. This improves the body’s nervous system.
The pain caused by varicose veins, especially in diabetic patients, can be reduced by walking barefoot regularly.
In conclusion, if you’re a parent who chases after their child all day long to get them to put their shoes on, then it’s time to think again!
It’s far better for children to walk barefoot at home. Having said that, you can, of course, let them wear socks if it’s cold!
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Alfaro, V. (2018). Todo comienza por un paso. Un compendio de lo que necesitas saber para que tus pies sean tu mejor aliado. Editorial Planeta.
