This document discusses children's foot health and the recommendations of medical experts. It covers the anatomy of children's feet, how ill-fitting shoes can deform growing feet, and the benefits of barefoot walking. The ideal child's shoe is described as having a flat, thin sole; wide toe box; soft interior; flexibility; and other features that allow the foot to develop naturally like when barefoot. Proper fitting is important as feet grow, and the shoes discussed use different shoe lasts and inserts to accommodate growth.
1. Barefoot Shoes and Kids Foot Health
• Anatomy of children’s feet
• Medical experts’ recommendation
• What to look for when purchasing
children shoes
• Demonstration of KidOFit Shoes
2. Anatomy
26 bones, 19 muscles, 107 ligaments
plus an array of delicate blood vessels
8. The Effect of Shoes
Dr. Lee Bivings, a pediatrician
from Atlanta, estimates that
99% of new born babies
have perfectly normal feet
9. The Effect of Shoes
He found out that in his clinic
more than 60% of babies
have acquired foot problems
at six years of age because of
ill-fitted shoes
11. Barefoot Walking
Barefoot Is Best
Medical experts worldwide agree
that barefoot walking is the best
thing for both healthy foot
development and for proper
posture development
13. Barefoot Walking
Dr. Wikler, DPM:
“Children who had the opportunity
of going barefoot a great deal had
less deformed toes, greater flexor
strength, and denser muscles
on the bottom of the feet”
14. Physiological Shoe
Dr. Lee Bivings:
“An ideal physiological
shoe, the equivalent of
bare-footedness, would
keep babies' feet normal
until six years of age!”
15. Physiological Shoe
Important Shoe Features
Dr. Lee Bivings:
“To develop a physiological
shoe and have it widely
distributed is not easy,
as I found out by personal
experience.”
16. Important Shoe Features
Flat, Thin Sole
The best soles are protective, while simulating barefoot conditions,
meaning, flat and thin, without heels, arch supports or other
molding" features. Soling material should be slip-resistant, shock
absorbing and flexible..
19. Important Shoe Features
Flexible
Flexible shoes allow the foot and ankle to develop most. When
choosing a shoe, you should be able to easily bend it to insure that
it adapts to the surface, and that it allows free foot movement.
20. Important Shoe Features
Soft Interior
The interior lining should be soft and smooth to avoid irritation.
The best material is fabric, padded with foam, similar to the one in
athletic shoes.
21. Important Shoe Features
Wide Toe Box
Infant and toddler shoes require a correspondingly much bigger
toe area than the shape of an adult shoe. Shoes with wide toe
boxes enable the child to wriggle their toes freely, and allow their
toes to spread without constriction.
22. Important Shoe Features
Easy On and Off
The opening to the shoe should be wide enough to enable the foot
to slip in easily, without having to squeeze the toes in any way.
24. Important Shoe Features
Elastic Collar
It also helps with getting the foot into the shoe without
having to squeeze the toes.
25. Important Shoe Features
Heel Strap
All KidOFit shoes are constructed with a heel strap in the
back portion of the shoe, enabling the adjustment of the grip
around the heel, and eliminating slippage.
26. Important Shoe Features
Transparent Sole
All KidOFit shoes come with transparent soles, which provide
a clear view of the child’s toes, and allow for checking how
the foot is positioned inside the shoe.
27. Important Shoe Features
Transparent Sole
All KidOFit shoes come with transparent soles, which provide
a clear view of the child’s toes, and allow for checking how
the foot is positioned inside the shoe.
28. Important Shoe Features
Fitting Inserts
A set of inserts, which comes with the shoes, can be used to
reduce the space inside the shoe when the fit is too wide or
too loose. As the foot grows, the inserts can be removed,
extending the lifespan of the shoe.
29. Important Shoe Features
Shoe Last
Since foot shape is changing as the foot grows the shoes
were constructed on three different lasts
The best soles are protective, while simulating barefoot conditions, meaning, flat and thin, without heels, arch supports or other "molding" features. Soling material should be slip-resistant, shock absorbing and flexible.
The best soles are protective, while simulating barefoot conditions, meaning, flat and thin, without heels, arch supports or other "molding" features. Soling material should be slip-resistant, shock absorbing and flexible.
The best soles are protective, while simulating barefoot conditions, meaning, flat and thin, without heels, arch supports or other "molding" features. Soling material should be slip-resistant, shock absorbing and flexible.
The best soles are protective, while simulating barefoot conditions, meaning, flat and thin, without heels, arch supports or other "molding" features. Soling material should be slip-resistant, shock absorbing and flexible.
The best soles are protective, while simulating barefoot conditions, meaning, flat and thin, without heels, arch supports or other "molding" features. Soling material should be slip-resistant, shock absorbing and flexible.
Flexible shoes allow the foot and ankle to develop most naturally by enabling the foot to respond to changes in the walking environment. When choosing a shoe, you should be able to easily bend it to insure that it adapts to the surface, and that it allows free foot movement. Inflexible, rigid shoes that restrict motion are potentially harmful to kids’ foot development.
It is recommended to put your hand inside the shoe, and check that the interior of the shoe is completely smooth.
Children’s feet are not just a scaled down version of adult’s feet. Many shoe manufacturers of children's shoes are simply scaled down versions of adult shoes. They have a triangle shape, which is wider at the toes, and need shoes to reflect this.
Children’s feet are not just a scaled down version of adult’s feet. Many shoe manufacturers of children's shoes are simply scaled down versions of adult shoes. They have a triangle shape, which is wider at the toes, and need shoes to reflect this.
The supple design insures a soft contact with the foot for maximum comfort and protection.
The supple design insures a soft contact with the foot for maximum comfort and protection.
The result: customized fit from wide to narrow feet.
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Children’s feet are not just a scaled down version of adult’s feet. Many shoe manufacturers of children's shoes are simply scaled down versions of adult shoes. They have a triangle shape, which is wider at the toes, and need shoes to reflect this.