Barefoot is best

… but not always possible. Five surprising things to look for when buying small shoes:

1

No slope from heel to toe and minimal cushioning – a heel on the shoe alters the position of leg muscles and the spine. 2 A pliable sole that offers grip but still allows for optimal flexibility of the forefoot during climbing, running and jumping. The foot needs to be able to absorb stress and adapt to all the various terrains.

3

A thin sole that allows optimal feedback from the environment – the foot is a sensory organ receiving messages to send to the brain – the more the child feels, the more confidence there is when moving about. 4

A wide toe box that allows the toes to splay in the shoe in a natural position – this improves natural foot function, stability during play, enhancing balance and proprio-receptive feedback. 5

Soft, natural, toxin-free materials that are breathable and naturally fight foot bacteria.

The back story to these tips: Nicole van Besouw, an occupational therapist from Cape Town, noticed her sons stumbling over tree roots and struggling to climb rocks during family walks. Their hard and thicksoled shoes were hindering their movement. “It’s natural to want to protect your children’s feet, but it’s incorrect to think that toddlers need arch support or cushioning, even if their feet look flat,” Nicole explains.

“In fact, science shows us that the opposite is true – the less cushioning they have, the more the ligaments and muscles naturally strengthen.”

These ligaments are the primary structure for supporting the foot. “Forcing developing feet into the wrong kind of shoes will negatively impact gait and can even cause deformities,” she says. Nicole and her engineer husband, John, researched barefoot-designed shoes for toddlers to create a shoe from local materials that is made for movement, stability and natural play. See the range and shop at common-tread.com.