Parents are often asking us about the true benefits of kids barefoot shoes to ensure they’re making the correct decision for their child's development and health.
Alongside our guide to barefoot kids shoes, we’ve decided to create this important blog post explaining exactly how barefoot shoes benefit children, so you can rest assured that your investment in barefoot is also an investment into your child's future.
The natural development of kids’ feet
Kids’ feet develop incredibly fast, beginning as soft cartilage and developing into hardened bone after a number of years.
Over the first 12 months, feet are mostly formed of soft and fragile cartilage instead of hard bone. During these stages, soft and loose socks as well as fully barefoot are most beneficial, and pre-walker shoes can be worn in the pram.
The second 12 months are when the feet begin to harden and strengthen, though they are still relatively soft during these months. Flat feet are common at this stage, and barefoot walking (or barefoot shoes) should be encouraged.
From 2-3 years is where arches typically form, and feet remain broad and fatty until around 6 years old, at which point they continue to develop and harden.
Check out boys barefoot shoes and girls barefoot shoes to support your child' s growth.
How barefoot shoes affect children’s feet
The goal of barefoot shoes is to protect feet without restricting or ‘shaping’ them. As a result, the impact barefoot shoes have is promoting natural growth and gait development through features such as soft materials and wide toe boxes which allow for natural splay.
In a sense, barefoot shoes shouldn’t have much of an ‘impact’ on children’s feet, in that their design is to provide protection and comfort without shaping, restricting, or inhibiting feet and movement.
Thanks to barefoot shoes, you can expect your children to develop healthy foot arches, muscles and tendons. They’re also much less likely to experience foot or walking related issues growing up, and even as adults when their feet are fully developed.
How do barefoot shoes actually benefit children?
Barefoot shoes are good for kids’ feet and benefit them thanks to a number of features, including wide toe boxes, thin zero drop soles and soft/breathable materials. These features are deliberately included in the build of each barefoot shoe to facilitate a range of foot health and development aspects:
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Toe splay - One of the most important ways barefoot shoes benefit children is by allowing for a wide toe splay. This is in direct contrast to the restrictive firm toe boxes of traditional footwear. Toe splay is important because it improves stability and balance, and helps the feet to distribute weight and force effectively.
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Natural foot protection - Despite needing unrestricted freedom of movement, kids feet often need protection from rough terrain and potential hazards on the ground. Barefoot shoes are beneficial because they offer this layer of protection without restricting growth.
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Enhanced posture and gait - Barefoot shoes actually improve posture and gait, even in the long term. This is because they promote natural foot alignment and strengthen important foot muscles.
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Foot growth and strength - Barefoot shoes allow for natural walking patterns and interactions between feet and the ground. Flexible soles encourage muscles, tendons and ligaments to strengthen and develop as nature intended.
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Balance - Thin soles and unrestrictive materials and designs improve sensory interaction with and feedback from the ground, improving long term balance and mobility.
The beauty of barefoot shoes is that they combine all of the benefits of barefoot walking with the necessary protection which footwear provides, so when comparing barefoot vs normal shoes, the former is almost always the ideal choice. At Prenta, we offer a range of high quality barefoot collections for kids, including:
Shop now for high quality barefoot shoes, or get in contact with us to learn more about our shoes before you buy.
