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The Benefits of Going Barefoot

September 8, 2020

Connecting with the world through our feet

The foot is the foundation of our body. It is a complex structure of 26 bones and 35 joints, with ligaments and muscles crisscrossing to support and hold it together.

This little piggy went to market, this little piggy went barefoot!

Young boy in a green shirt, black shorts and barefoot, sits on the floor playing with chalk

Behind their tough exterior, feet are extremely sensitive and naturally wired to our brain. By giving children lots of opportunities to play and explore with bare feet, on a variety of ground covers – soft, hard, squishy, uneven, bumpy – as they run, jump, walk, crawl, skip or balance, they all work to connect your child with the ground.

Your baby’s foot, padded with fat, is highly flexible, usually flat-footed and may turn inwards. As your baby learns to walk their foot muscles, ligaments and bones start to develop and strengthen. 

Walking barefoot is what will help these important systems in the body develop to their fullest. Being able to tune into your body and connect with your mind, being aware of the position and movement of your body simultaneously helps your little one move properly from the inside to the outside of their body.

The sensory feast of going barefoot

Even the simple act of playing in the backyard with bare feet can be a sensory feast for your child. The feeling of cool prickly grass in the shade, the warm soft grass in the sun, the gritty concrete path, the stones that prick their toes, expanding and bending their toes to grip to run faster.

All this sensory information about the body and their environment would be missed with shoes. 

Close up of baby feet going barefoot in the grass

In the words of Maggie Dent, Australia’s favourite parenting author, educator and our “queen of common sense”:

There is so much going on in our babies’ and toddlers’ feet that actually help them develop physically, emotionally and even psychologically.

Let’s look at how simply losing the shoes during your child’s day can play a significant role in their development, and how it teaches them so much about themselves and their environment.

The benefits of going barefoot

Barefoot for physical development 

As your child learns to walk in bare feet, their brain also learns the normal pattern of movement. How the muscles shorten and lengthen, how the joints adjust and move. All these movements work to strengthen the foot muscles and ligaments, while ensuring the complete function and development of the feet and body.

Uninhibited by shoes, they continue to develop the complete range of movement in the foot and ankle joints. Strong feet and legs will aid their stability (preventing falls) and will further support their hips and back, improving their posture and body growth.

A young child in orange pants going barefoot up a climbing wall

Barefoot for motor development

When your child has more control of their feet, their movement during play and running boosts their balance system. A good sense of balance enables your child to climb and pivot on different surfaces, trying to adjust to changing environments below their feet. Each movement becomes more stable, so skipping, running, climbing and jumping are safer.

When balancing on stepping stones with bare feet, your child will learn exactly where to place their foot and toes on each stone, to not only balance on the stone safely, but also so it does not hurt their feet.

A well-formed balance system is great for your child’s posture. It also improves their supporting centres for spatial awareness, eye movements, and even their executive sense of time.

Barefoot for emotional development

As your child’s feet feel, move and balance on the surface they are exploring, the brain registers this tactile and sensory input. Being aware of their environment, the ground and their spatial awareness allows your child to move freely throughout it. Stimulating and building healthy brains working at optimal levels.

Going barefoot provides a quantity of information for your child to process, utilising the many dimensions of attention and further improving their concentration.

Mum and son going barefoot during playtime on a wheely cart

For example, as your child climbs a tree barefoot, they focus their attention on adjusting their feet and curling their toes around the trunk, giving them the support they need to hoist their body. Walking along a sandy beach with bare feet, allows your child to balance on the soft, uneven sand. Your child’s attention is also drawn towards the feel the sand – hard or soft, hot or cold, wet or dry – between their toes.

Going barefoot provides the foundation for brain development responsible for emotional control, social skills, language development, and confidence. The better the foundations laid in their early years, the stronger their brain will develop.

Going barefoot and the Reggio Emilia approach

The Reggio Emilia Approach is an early childhood education approach and one that Grace Village subscribes to. It is based on valuing your child as a strong, capable, and resilient person, rich with wonder and knowledge. This philosophy emphasises a hands-on discovery learning that allows your child to use all their senses to learn.

We believe playing in bare feet enriches your child’s opportunity to immerse themselves in activities as they connect more closely with the environment.

At Grace Village, we also subscribe to a barefoot play policy to enhance your children’s discovery and exploration of our world!

Child Care Centres blog post image for Grace Village ELC, Blacktown

Learn more about Play-Based Learning at Grace Village

Discover the Reggio Emilia Approach

Grace Village’s barefoot policy

To support our Reggio Emilia Approach, Grace Village has implemented a ‘no shoes’ policy in all our indoor spaces.

We believe there is a place for shoes in your child’s everyday life, but if you intentionally ensure they spend time without shoes, you are creating ample opportunities to expand and enhance their development.

No shoes are worn into the Tiny Humans rooms so that your child can explore and play on the floor. For peace of mind, knowing that it is a clean, safe place to crawl and move around, everyone must remove their shoes before entering.

Children are given the opportunity to play inside and outside barefoot with both play spaces fitted with the highest quality synthetic grass to provide a cushiony place to land for those we are still unsteady on their feet, and a safe place to play for those of us who are just learning to crawl and walk!

Gumboots are used outside and depending on the play experience and if it is safe, each child has the choice to remove their gumboots or are encouraged by the educator.

Come see for yourself, how fun it is to play in bare feet at Grace Village!

The simple practice of allowing your children to play in bare feet can be so beneficial for them. So, lose the shoes and let the thousands of nerves in our feet provide an amazing sensory experience for everyone, not just our children!


Learn more about our barefoot policy on your own personal tour

Join our Centre Director for a 30 minute guided tour of Grace Village Early Learning

Book now

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What Parents Say

Grace Village Early Learning Centre
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Grace Village Early Learning Centre is an amazing center . My 3 yr old Son has always looked forward to attending his days . Chantel has created a caring environment that exceeds every child and... parents expectation. I loved knowing about my child through out the day through their app which their educators were brilliant at updating . I highly recommend this center . Thank you for everything you do .read more
Marina S.
Marina S.
First of all there's a child care that looks after the kids&Then there's Grace Village Early Learning centre that nurtures your kids. It is meant that a child's development begins from the pillar... and Grace Villageis a pillar. After 2 years of tenure with Grace Village ELC, I realise that there could not have been a better place for my daughter. Their professionalism is at its best. A most recommended ELC for the parents looking to enrol their kids. There is no option to give more stars or else I would give 10/10.read more
Chirag V.
Chirag V.
We could not thank Grace Village enough for the support and care they give all the children. The whole team are kind hearted and down to earth. If you send your child here, you will not regret it.... They are amazing.read more
Ricci J.
Ricci J.
My first born son attended Grace Village ELC for more than two years and was joined by his brother when I went back to work. I could not recommend the centre enough, not only do they have amazing... facilities with spacious indoor play area, lovely educators and quality programmes, they also have been great in balancing being professional and personable at the same time. I am so grateful that they have been a part of my boys' early learning and they will be missed dearly. All the best!read more
Toni Rose C.
Toni Rose C.
The educators are excellent at their job. They were really patient with my little one and helped her transition into care. It just shows that much they care about the kids. I would recommend them to... any parents looking for a childcare.read more
Gilbert V.
Gilbert V.
Grace village is a such a wonderful and vibrant childcare centre. My daughter absolutely loves attending the centre and she has thrived ever since! The educators are friendly and very patient. The... centre is well equipped with educational aids and equipment and it has a large sandpit which all of the kids love! It is such a fun centre!The directors/owners are lovely people who are also very dedicated, welcoming and accommodating.The centre celebrates Easter, Christmas and Mothers and Fathers day well, by involving the families. They put on lavish and wonderful luncheons and events at the centre. I love how they involve everyone, not just the child. I cannot recommend them enough!!! 😍read more
Jo T.
Jo T.
I have had my children at grace village since it opened, I knew from the moment I walked in and was greeted by the childcare centre owners ( Ray and Chantel) that this is where I want to send my... children. I basically was ready to sign my children up untill the centre just got better and better, they took me through the the rooms which are beautiful and then I was shown the kitchen (OMG the kitchen) the children go to eat their meals in this mini cafeteria it is the cutest thing and I loved that my children were able to see each other during meal times.Then we walked into the indoor play space and wow just wow it’s honestly something you haven’t seen before I just LOVED the fact that if it was completely pouring down rain my very active boys could still play( indoor play space) like they were playing outside.The staff are amazing!!! And i could go on and on and on about how great this place is but you have to go see it yourself.read more
Julieanne L.
Julieanne L.
Grace village has been absolute game changer for my family! My son Hamza attended and The AMAZING staff at Grace Village are the most patient, friendly, kind, warm, respectful, professional,... engaging people I've ever met. The love, security, education and energy they provide the classrooms and each child is unbelievable, they not only engage with my son but they quite often tailor activities to his needs and interests; they provide him the opportunity to "help" around the centre and they really try to maintain a positive and happy atmosphere/environment for the kids. I would highly recommend this early learning centre to everyone who is looking for a place for their child to not only learn, but to blossom and be cared for on not only a professional and educational level but a maternal level too. The educators are simply amazing. We only took our Son out as we have moved to interstate and honestly miss you team.read more
Hussein O.
Hussein O.
My grand daughter attended gracevillage for almost 2 yearsShe throughly enjoyed her time there and learnt so much with the daily activities food was great nutritious & healthy the carers were... absolutely nice & welcomingGracevillage has a wonderful lovely feel to the place I would highly recommend to anyoneI wish Ray & Chantel all the best for the futureWe will miss everyoneThank you to all the carers been and goneread more
Margaret M.
Margaret M.
Love love love all the educators at Grace Village. I am so privileged to not only work with the amazing team, but also have my little girl absolutely love and enjoy every single day in the tiny... humans room. All the educators throughout the centre show her so much love and that’s exactly what makes me want to come to Grace Village each day!read more
Gloria H.
Gloria H.
We are so lucky to be apart of Grace Village. From the amazing facility, quality learning programs to the amazing owners and educators. We couldn’t be happier to have found Grace Village. HIGHLY... Recommend!!!read more
Megan R.
Megan R.
My daughter has been attending Grace Village for the past 3 months and had settled really well and clearly enjoys going to daycare. As an anxious mum, I was surprised how comfortable I have been... leaving my daughter there every day, but I know she will be so well looked after.She is really flourishing, and the updates each day show just how much thought and care goes into planning activities for the children every week. I am so surprised how much my little one has developed in the few weeks she has been there, especially as she's only part time. Already she is speaking much more and has learned to walk (although she insists on being carried around a lot at daycare!)From the moment I walked in I knew I wanted to send her to this daycare, and we were on the waiting list for a year before a spot opened up, but I am so glad we stayed on the waiting list. It has been the perfect fit for our family and I am so grateful to all the wonderful educators, there really isn't a weak link - they have all be amazing!read more
catherine L.
catherine L.

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