Children going barefoot - yes?

Quite normal in NZ for adults to walk around town barefoot.
Saw a woman in a pretty floaty grey skirt walk past here (N Wales) earlier with bare feet. That really is a very narrow view. More harm done by squashing feet into tight shoes than walking barefoot.

What may be looked upon as the norm in other countries could be perceived as 'unusual' in UK. I am much happier barefoot around the house and garden and from May-September enjoy not wearing socks or tights.

Yes, lots of barefoot children in my family, charging round on grass and across decking and patios, in and out of paddling pools, and running into their houses trailing water and grass. Occasional yelps because of the odd little stone, but outweighed by the freedom and fun. Certainly not neglect!

GDs also barefoot in the house and garden but I think the walking around town isn't such a good idea and would be looked upon as unusual here. It's not something I would want to do.

I don't do it much because of my flat feet, which are more comfortable with a bit of support. However, I do like wearing sandals in the summer.

I see no harm in going barefoot, and it is good for the feet to get the exercise without shoes. It always amuses me in Australia to hear of flip-flops referred to as 'thongs'. Have visions of lots of bare bums backsides!

My poor GS was barefoot in the garden when he trod on a wasp lurking in the grass and got stung!

Other than flip-flops for posh occasions, I didn't wear shoes until I came back to England from the Middle East when I was twelve.

I have the fallen arches to prove it!

merlotgran, I was told that would help the arches - I was told to go barefoot and given exercises to help my fallen arches when I was a child. However, it is hereditary and nothing helped.

Same here, rosequartz. I didn't know it at the time but my feet were doomed. Going barefoot simply made them worse as my arches had no support at all.

A friend who lives in Lanzarote hardly ever wears shoes, only for special occasions, and finds it hard work when visiting family over here, having to wear shoes.

Podiatrist told me never to go barefoot e.g. In the house which I ignore but pavements (like patios) could be too hot! Ouch!!

Youngest DGS hates anything on his feet, as soon as he's indoors shoes n socks are off. I'd rather be barefoot around house and garden in summer. I have walked home bare foot after a night out in my younger days.

I remember jumping off the last bus, taking off my stilettos and creeping down the road in my (flat) stockinged feet, then warily climbing up the stairs hoping they didn't creak!

Living in Bournemouth as I do, a lot of people obviously walk along the beach and prom barefooted. However, they often leave the beach and walk along the path of the Chines towards their hotels. It makes me wince as I've seen what dogs do on the pathway and if you had a cut on foot ? People behave differently on holiday don't they? Would you wear a bikini to the supermarket?

Not even on the beach, dorsetpennt!

It has been known dorsetpennt. Our local Tesco has direct access from the car park to the beach. Have seen more than one 'lady' ? In bikini top and the shortest shorts in the store.

Oh yes - no shoes please especially after my bunion and collapsed toe op. Going barefoot helps exercise the feet I was told by an orthopaedic surgeon.

My MiL was always going on at me to get slippers for the boys. Whenever anyone bought slippers for them, they took them off and went barefoot. Outside in the garden too, though DS1 did stand on a bee and get a sting in his foot once.

ninathenana A friend, who works the graveyard ship at her local Tesco, tells me that she frequently sees women shopping in their pyjamas.

never neglect, my children always loved going barefoot. I hardly wear shoes in the house or garden. Once my toes are out for the summer they hardly ever go away.

I used to go barefoot in my youth - and drive barefoot too. The GC like being barefoot especially the littlest one and in the garden I think it's fine though not so sure about out on the pavement these days.

Here in Australia kids go barefoot a lot. I only allowed my own lads to go barefoot around our own home and garden, because being English it seemed pretty awful to me. In spite of my restrictions, my youngest still managed to cut his foot on some hidden glass shards. The GP stitched him up, perfectly used to cut feet on kids. My then three year old was so very brave, determined not to cry!

I don't know - I suppose if the weather is warm and it is grass underfoot, why not? Most folks wouldn't be unluckily enough to stand on hidden glass!

My Oz gc's go bare foot most of the time but when I was there in December, the 5 year old managed to tread on a rusty 3" nail in the garage. You'd think after all the blood, trauma, hospital visit and hobbling it would have put her off - oh no, next day off she went without any footwear despite her Granny's protestations. They do tend to hop a bit on the sand when it's so hot it burns the bottom of their feet. My UK SiL hardly ever wears shoes - occasionally deigns to wear thongs - even in winter. When he was younger and living with us, I had to remind him to put something on his feet to take the dog out in the snow He's 32! (sil not the dog) Duh!

Barefoot is great - and very healthy. But yes, common sense is needed to choose areas which are suitable- in the Summer I am always barefoot in garden and house, and as soon as I get near a beach, I just have to take my shoes off immediately- wonderful.