It is important for you to know that barefoot footwear , also known as minimalist footwear or respectful footwear, is a type of footwear with a great advantage: it allows the foot to move as if it were walking barefoot. Its design is respectful of the natural shape of the foot and provides protection against environmental or weather aggressions when we need it.

Why is it important to wear barefoot school shoes?

Our little ones spend many hours each day at school and spend most of the day sitting indoors. If we add to this the use of rigid shoes, we have a combination that is quite harmful for their musculoskeletal development.

The most amazing thing is that although 98% of babies are born with healthy feet, 70% of them will suffer from some foot pathology throughout their lives, and one of the main causes is inappropriate footwear, according to data from the Illustrious Official College of Podiatrists of the Valencian Community (ICOPC) relating to the Spanish population.

In reality, healthy feet do not need any help to walk or develop properly. Foot muscles can only be strengthened if they are ideally exercised by walking barefoot and through different types of textures. Since this is not always possible due to the weather and/or not all schools allow this option, there is a solution: barefoot school shoes . Shoes that respect the shape of the foot and are so minimalist that they allow you to walk as if you were barefoot.

What are the characteristics of environmentally friendly school shoes?

Barefoot footwear has five main features:

• Wide Toe Box: Barefoot shoes are designed to mimic the natural shape of the human foot, preventing long-term deformation and allowing space for the toes to fully open when walking, thereby improving balance and body stability;
• No drop (heel lift): Any difference in height, even if it is only a few millimetres, forces our body to compensate in order to keep the body upright and balanced. In addition, the long-term drop shortens the tendons, thus affecting the posture and the centre of gravity of the body. This impacts the entire functioning of the body in the long term (feet, knees, hips, back, etc.).
• Thin and flexible sole: Helps us connect with the ground, feel where we walk and encourage our muscles to work and stay strong;
• Good support system: the shoe follows the movement of the foot, it does not flip-flop or dance. The foot should not come out of the shoe or slide forward when walking. Shoes that you have to hold on to with your toes to keep them on are not recommended (flip-flops, plastic clog-type shoes, slippers without a heel, etc.).
• No elements that interfere with the development of the foot: no toe lifts, no arch support, no stabilizers, no cushioning. The feet must rest on the ground to strengthen themselves, prevent injuries, and ensure balance and stability of the body.

Benefits of wearing respectful school shoes

In short, wearing footwear that is respectful of the shape of your feet has a number of benefits for our health, which is why it is so recommended in conditions of prolonged use such as school:

1. Prevents deformations that can be caused by narrow footwear, improving balance and body stability;
2. Helps maintain good posture;
3. It increases the sensory experience and contact with the ground, thanks to which the muscles of your feet work and stay strong;