What is it about?
Habitually barefoot children aged 6–10 years scored higher in a balance test and standing long jump than habitually shod children. Habitually barefoot adolescents between 15 and 18 years of age also showed a greater long jump distance than shod adolescents.
Featured Image
Photo by Chelsea Aaron on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Footwear habits have an influence on the development of motor skills during childhood and adolescence. Regular physical activities without footwear may be beneficial for the development of jumping and balance skills, especially in younger children.
Perspectives
I hope this article provides insight into the role of footwear on children's motor development. Young children should be given the opportunity to spend time playing barefoot - indoors and outdoors. Collaborating with my co-authors from Germany and South Africa has been a pleasure and a privilege.
RANEL (Rachel) VENTER
Stellenbosch University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Motor Skills of Children and Adolescents Are Influenced by Growing up Barefoot or Shod, Frontiers in Pediatrics, April 2018, Frontiers,
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00115.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
