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In a rush? Here's the quick run-down.
• Guest author Linda McGurk explores all the benefits of barefoot play for children — and how we might get over the barefoot taboo in early education.
• Some parts of the world celebrate going barefoot, especially as a rite of childhood. And you'll find plenty of research below to support this — both in terms of children's physical and neurological development.
• At the bottom, you can pick up some handy tips on how to bring more barefoot play into your own early education program.
Barefoot without socks and shoes,
I shall talk a walk with you,
Out to where the summer winds rise up
To the roses and forget-me-nots.
I pick strawberries that grow by the roadside
Line them up on a straw
Which tickles so nice under my foot
I can feel it with my toe.
Thus starts The Barefoot Ballad, one of the most cherished children’s songs in Sweden, sung at just about every elementary school end-of-year ceremony in the country. In Sweden, few phenomena are as closely associated with the start of summer as children playing barefoot, and grubby feet are a celebrated symbol of a free and happy childhood.
Having grown up in this culture, I can still recall the annual ritual of running barefoot around the house on the first really warm spring day, feeling the cool grass against the soles of my feet and squeezing the moisture from the soft moss with my toes.
When I raised my own two daughters in the US many years later, I found that caregivers there didn’t necessarily share my infatuation with letting children play barefoot outdoors. People worried that children would be injured or infected with disease if they didn't wear shoes. I noticed children even wearing shoes indoors — at preschool, at school, and sometimes also at home. Some daycares and preschools in the US even have policies explicitly prohibiting bare feet.
That’s too bad, because children have a lot to gain from walking barefoot and it can be done safely, even in an ECE setting. And yes, even outdoors!
Wearing shoes affects everything from our gait and posture and foot development to the strength of our foot's arch. For example, we have scientific evidence to suggest that flat feet are far more common in children who usually wear shoes, than those who don’t. We also know the critical period for the development of the arch is before age six. This means that walking barefoot is especially important during early childhood.
But it's not just about children's feet — barefoot play affects brain development too.
With children, walking barefoot can:
Angela Hanscom, a pediatric occupational therapist and author of the book Balanced and Barefoot recommends letting children go barefoot as much as possible, both indoors and outdoors.
“Walking outdoors offers natural messages to children’s feet as they walk on different-sized pebbles and uneven ground,” she writes. “The resistance and inconsistency nature offers integrates reflexes in the foot and forms strong arches. Going barefoot out in nature helps to develop normal gait patterns, balance and tolerance of touch in the feet, all of which provide a strong foundation for confident and fluid movement.”
This tactile feedback from walking barefoot is beneficial to children of all ages, not the least babies who are just learning to walk.
We’re all born to walk barefoot, and children usually don’t need much convincing to ditch the shoes. As a parent or caregiver, all you need to do is to support children's natural inclination to explore the world sans shoes, starting already in babyhood. Say “yes” to barefoot play as often as possible, and try to offer a variety of natural surfaces for children to walk on.
In a backyard as well as a childcare setting, creating a sensory walking path with different surfaces can be a fun way for children to explore different textures with their feet and promote a healthy sensory development.
When children shed their shoes and feel the ground beneath their feet, they gain awareness of their senses, their bodies and their surroundings.
These are some simple ideas for natural materials to use in a sensory path:
If you have access to nature trails, they too can be a good place for children to go barefoot.
A common concern about young children walking barefoot is the risk of infection from bacteria and viruses in the ground.
In reality, children are far more likely to pick up an infection when they stick their fingers in their mouth and nose, rather than through their feet. Plus, the dark, moist environment of a shod foot is more conducive to fungal and bacterial growth than bare feet. The skin itself is a natural barrier protecting against infection, and the more a child walks barefoot, the tougher the skin becomes. This also decreases the risk of injury from cuts.
If you’re in a preschool or daycare setting, check what rules apply in your area before letting children go barefoot, and get the parents on board by explaining the benefits and how you plan to manage potential risks.
These tips will help you keep barefoot play time safe and enjoyable:
In most cases, the benefits of barefoot walking by far outweigh the risks. Rather than fight a child’s desire to go barefoot, try to embrace it and remember that grubby feet are usually a sign of a happy child.
Besides, bare feet aren’t just for kids – why don’t you take your shoes and socks off and join in the fun? Your feet will thank you.
Guidance from the Danish Health Ministry, translated in full to English.
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The full recommendations from a working group of over 70 nursery chains in the UK.
Please note: here at Famly we love sharing creative activities for you to try with the children at your setting, but you know them best. Take the time to consider adaptions you might need to make so these activities are accessible and developmentally appropriate for the children you work with. Just as you ordinarily would, conduct risk assessments for your children and your setting before undertaking new activities, and ensure you and your staff are following your own health and safety guidelines.
