The right shoes are so much more important than you think! I’ve had my own journey with footwear and injuries, and being middle aged makes me that much more vulnerable.
In high school, my cross-country seasons were interrupted twice by stress fractures. Orthotics finally fixed the problem, and I was able to complete two seasons injury free.
However, problems started to arise once again after I had my second baby. In short, my whole-body alignment was off. With the help of therapeutic yoga, I practiced proper body alignment mainly through foot flexibility.
In the beginning of each class, we would “work” our feet, which would involve rolling them over a tennis ball, massaging each foot, and manually separating our toes. By the end of the last class in the therapeutic yoga series, I was able to align my body according to the mechanics of my feet.
Caring for our feet, which includes wearing the correct footwear, has a huge impact on how we move—our biomechanics. The way we step can determine foot, knee, hip, and pelvic floor health. Wearing the right shoes and/or going barefoot most of the time will impact our alignment in a positive way.
This is true for both you and your kids! My yoga experience increased my awareness of foot health for kids. I was more aware of the benefits of “barefoot” time as well as the right footwear for my kids.
Armed with knowledge from my class, I gave my kids as much opportunity to develop flexible feet, and you can do the same for your kids! If they do not engage in activities that often encourage this, gradually add these activities in. They can be as simple as walking barefoot in the grass, or even around the house. You can also show your kids how to massage feet while watching TV, get them some fun toe separators or buy a textured mat for them to walk on. “The Floor is Lava” is a great game for this while barefoot as well.
You want to buy shoes that will allow your kids to use their feet in a flexible way, but we can’t fight trends sometimes! My kids are now asking for mainstream shoes, and of course I’m giving in. Gardening shoes that are so very popular now as well as flip flops will continue to plague our lives, but there are activities we can do ensure healthy feet for you and your family.
Of course, different activities require different levels of support, so talk to your pediatrician or podiatrist.
Please note that running or intense walking on pavement requires a supportive shoe like New Balance, Hoka or Brookes. Do not go right into this activities with barefoot or minimalist shoes. You will hurt yourself! If you want to run or walk with minimalist shoes, your feet need to build a tolerance to this, so work with a specialist like a podiatrist or a chiropractor.
Some great minimalist (shoes that mimic barefoot walking) shoe brands. Please be aware that not all models are treated the same! Some brands might have both minimalist and traditional models. As a consumer, take a good look! Make sure that the shoe has a wide toe bed and a flat, flexible sole.
Minimalist shoes for you:
Xero shoes – I currently have these shoes, and love them for everyday walking. These are a bit more stylish and less restrictive, and I wore them so much the soles wore out. If I am going on a long walk or on a run, I wear Brookes Adrenaline. I have purchased these for one of my kids as well and she loved them. The Dillon is currently on my wish list. Their hiking boots are great, too. I wore these on hikes in Hawaii, Maine, and Vermont. They are waterproof. I love them. I did not get them for my tween (they don’t sell kids hiking boots) because I wanted her to have more structure when hiking while we were traveling. Let’s avoid sprained or broken ankles, please! For the next round of boots, I’ll consider Xero for her.
Earthrunners – They sell great sandals that I am going to purchase soon, if not today. I got them for me and my kids several summers ago and loved them. For sandals, I’m not a big fan of elastic bands as straps. I really prefer straps that are flat and not elastic.
Toms – We all know Toms! Great brand with a great message, they are good everyday shoes.
Plae – I bought these waterproof sandals for my kids when they were younger. They are sturdy but don’t compromise their gait. Perfect for the beach or a light hike!
Vivo Barefoot – I am always eyeing these up, but never buying because of the higher price point.
Stonz – great winter booties for babies. Can only get the baby ones on Ebay. I don’t think that the other boots that Stonz sells are minimalist 🙁
Tieks – Another brand that I have my eye on. They are dressy, but the price point is pretty high. I can’t justify buying them for myself.
Lands End – These may have a slight heel, but LE decent rain boots for kids without too many restrictions on foot movement (in my lay-person opinion). And the boots last a long time.
I thought this was so cute: Foot Jewelry! Check it out.
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