Did you know that 98% of all children are born with healthy feet? However, throughout life, children are put into shoes that are poorly shaped or simply don’t fit the shape of their feet. Thick soles, high heels, and narrow toe areas deform the toes and restrict the feet.
By choosing footwear that mimics barefoot walking, we give feet what they long for — freedom.
Physiotherapists and pediatricians agree that the best option for healthy and normal foot development is barefoot footwear, which allows feet to move just as they would if walking barefoot.
Leonardo da Vinci already said that human feet are an engineering masterpiece, but we usually only realize their importance when an injury occurs. Some foot development irregularities are congenital, while others result from inappropriate footwear. Out of ignorance, parents put used shoes on their children, imposing incorrect walking patterns and contributing to the development of poor movement habits.
In an effort to make shoes last longer, parents often buy shoes that are too big or insist on ones that are too small. This hinders the child and discourages proper activities. Today, there is growing emphasis in the professional community on scientifically supported views that completely reject the old belief that a child needs hard shoes with a high heel counter and arch support for proper foot development. To enable the most correct and smooth development of a child’s foot, the foot must be left as free as possible.
Excessive muscle support is not beneficial, as it weakens them and limits movement.
Research has confirmed that supporting the foot arch in a normally developed child’s foot has no positive effects, as the child must build the arches with muscle. This means by loading the foot, bearing weight, balancing, and standing on the toes. Therefore, footwear should be as soft and comfortable as possible, with a flat, soft, and flexible sole, and a heel counter that is not too high or stiff. When choosing the first shoes, we must remember that their primary purpose is to protect against cold and prevent slipping when standing.
