Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Should We Be Raising Kids Barefoot?



Some think wearing shoes is a matter of civilization or fashion. But there's also hot sand and pavement, the danger of stepping on LEGO bricks, glass, or bees (a particular childhood memory of mine), and of course the fact that it gets cold in the winter. When I was young, it only took two weeks or so every spring to build the callouses I needed to walk on gravel or hot pavement, but as an adult I mostly wear sandals. Should we all just ditch shoes and go barefoot? SciShow goes over the research that says yes, at least for children and maybe for athletes. The rest of us would probably do well to kick off our shoes and feel the air on our feet more often, if just for the psychological boost. But make sure you are up-to-date on your tetanus shot. This video is only five minutes long; the rest is an ad. (via Digg)

5 comments:

WTM said...

During high school football training, we used to run barefoot up the sides of a sand pit, carrying a bucket of sand in each hand. This exercises foot muscles you didn't know you had.

I preferentially go barefoot around the house and in the yard, but the wife won't go outside without shoes - has a dread of ringworm.

At the time of Jack the Ripper, many of the London poor went barefoot, regardless of the weather or season. And there is today a theory that one's health depends on making regular barefoot contact with Mother Earth - something about the flow of electrons or some such. Why take chances?

xoxoxoBruce said...

Summer time was barefoot time until was 12 and started working summers.

Anonymous said...

Here in NZ we don't stop once we are adults.

Bicycle Rider said...

"Here in NZ we don't stop once we are adults."

There's a punchline somewhere in there, I am sure of that...

Anonymous said...

Several companies online sell "minimalist" shoes, that are supposed to mimic being barefoot, while offering some protection against injury or pain from stepping on something sharp.
I've been thinking about getting a pair.