Remember when you were a child walking barefoot through the warm summer grass or on a warm beach? It is hard not to feel nostalgic when you think about kicking off your shoes and feeling the earth under your feet. Our ancestors throughout history walked barefoot or had other direct contact with the Earth. In fact, one-fifth of the world’s population today do not wear shoes.
Did you know there are actually a lot of good reasons to encourage your children to walk barefoot outside as much as possible? Going barefoot is good for each of us, but it is especially beneficial for fast growing toddlers and kids to go without shoes.
Our feet contain a complex network of nerves and acupuncture points and are particularly capable of absorbing free electrons from the earth’s surface. This practice is called barefoot medicine, also known as “earthing”. Walking barefoot is one of the most straightforward, easiest, and cheapest ways to keep kids healthy.
Now that the weather has gotten warmer, I encourage my three, six, and eight year-old kids to walk around barefoot in the backyard pretty much constantly, as I am always doing. We do not wear shoes in our home, so we are accustomed to walking barefoot indoor. Walking barefoot outdoors has become our new norm.
Walking barefoot on the soil, grass, sand, or any natural surface gets our feet in direct contact with the Earth. Besides being quite relaxing, walking barefoot has many health benefits for kids.
Increases balance and strength
By feeling the ground uninhibited by shoes, kids start waking up their vestibular system, or balance system, in the brain. This helps to invigorate new neural connections for greater balance. Additionally, by going barefoot, kids begin to awaken new muscles used for balance and support.
Promotes healthy posture
Walking and playing barefoot promotes a healthy posture in kids. Allowing your children to walk barefoot improves their posture by providing better communication of sensory information through the nerve endings in the bottom of their feet, their legs, and to the rest of their body.
Promotes healthy feet
Health begins in our feet. Letting kids run around barefoot helps the foot to grow naturally and to improve its musculature and strength, in addition to the clenching actions of toes. This is especially in babies just learning to walk. Walking barefoot can also condition your child’s feet for future barefoot sports such as ballet, gymnastics, and martial arts.
Stimulates the brain
Walking barefoot and the act of feeling the ground helps to strengthens kids senses; reduces stress and tension; improves memory, focus, concentration, and intelligence; and improves sleep.
Tips for barefoot walking
- Examine the area where your kids will be walking or playing to ensure there are no safety hazards that can hurt their feet such as sharp rocks, hidden toys, or other sharp or protruding objects.
- Wash your kids feet after they have been walking or playing barefoot outside to decrease dirt and germs in your home.
- Don’t let kids go barefoot if they have cuts or open sores on the soles of their feet. This is a common entryway for germs/fungi.
It’s not just kids. We are ALL almost always barefoot in our house.
I have some kids that hate shoes. The minute we get in the car they take them off, most of their shoes are in the car!
Mama to 5 BLessings recently posted…So Many Amazing Things To See & Do At The Palm Beach Zoo
My kids don’t like shoes much either. It is so “freeing” to be barefoot.
I am a Florida girl and grew up running barefoot. I now wear the minimal shoes because my feet are so used to it. My youngest also wears the minimal shoes so he can build up his feet, ankle and lower leg muscles – these help with so many different things as you pointed out. I actually injured myself by trying to wear regular running shoes.
My friend who is from Alabama said she never wore shoes in the summer as akid. She ran, rode bikes, and played barefoot.
I have always preferred walking barefoot–as a child I did and even now as an adult! I never knew there were health benefits attached to this practice–I just know that I am a lot more comfortable.
Michele recently posted…$25 Amazon/PP-WW-For Love or Money-Kathy DiSanto-Ends 5/31
I have to say that I love walking barefoot too. It’s just so comfy, especially in warmer weather!
Liz Mays recently posted…Blueberry Breakfast Muffins with Buttery Crumble Topping
Me too, although my feet are a bit more sensitive now since I didn’t do it as much as I did as a kid.
I never went barefoot as a kid anywhere- but I do as an adult!
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Do you go out in public barefoot or just around the yard?
I have one kiddie who absolutely loves being barefoot but two who are more like me and can’t stand it…LOL
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I have one kiddie who absolutely loves being barefoot but two who are more like me and can’t stand it…LOL I’m not sure why but I simply could never stand the feeling of grass, the ground or anything on my feet…it’s slippers or socks for me always. I admire people who walk barefoot :)
Tiffany recently posted…What’s New At The Your Channel Or Mine YouTube Hop!
Some people do not like to walk barefoot, that is for sure. Have you tried minimalist shoes?
I agree. Bare feet are happy feet, which makes happy kids. It saves time on laundry and it’s one less thing to remember going out the door! If they don’t need gloves, they don’t need shoes.