Here's why playing barefoot can be beneficial for your kids
| Jul 12, 2018, 16:41 IST
Scientists have found that children who play and walk barefoot develop fine motor skills and are better at jumping and balancing. “Walking barefoot is widely thought to be more natural, and the use of footwear has long been discussed as an influencing factor on foot health and movement pattern development,” says Astrid Zech, a professor at University of Jena in Germany.
“The feet carry the weight of the whole body and serve as a medium between the body and the ground. When a child starts walking and running the forces of gravity act upon the body from the ground and enable the muscle to develop a synergistic action. This coupled with the body movements helps the child to develop gross motor skills,” says Dr. Snehal Deshpande, a pediatrician.
“Skin is exposed to tactile stimulation through sensory receptors on the soles and stimulates brain. Barefoot kids get more sensory stimulation and motor reflexes are developed better. That is the reason children left bare foot are expert in balancing their bodies and have quicker reflexes,” added another doctor. Well, looks like your kids need to start playing barefoot.
“The feet carry the weight of the whole body and serve as a medium between the body and the ground. When a child starts walking and running the forces of gravity act upon the body from the ground and enable the muscle to develop a synergistic action. This coupled with the body movements helps the child to develop gross motor skills,” says Dr. Snehal Deshpande, a pediatrician.
“Skin is exposed to tactile stimulation through sensory receptors on the soles and stimulates brain. Barefoot kids get more sensory stimulation and motor reflexes are developed better. That is the reason children left bare foot are expert in balancing their bodies and have quicker reflexes,” added another doctor. Well, looks like your kids need to start playing barefoot.