One of the strongest moments in the life of young parents is when their baby takes his first steps. A moment rich in emotions but also in questions, the latter often concern the accompaniment of the baby so that this phase is going smoothly. One of the most common questions is how should we put it on? Here's all you need to know about the effect of bare feet on the baby's development.
Sensory development refers to the maturation of the five familiar senses: hearing, smell, taste, touch, and vision. It also involves how the nervous system of your baby or child gets input from these senses and then forms an appropriate motor or behavioral response.
What is the relation between the contact of the feet with the ground and the sensory system?
Two sensory systems of equal importance, which are not so commonly recognized, begin to play a dominant role as babies begin to coordinate their movements and interact more with the world. These two systems are called proprioceptive system and vestibular system.
Proprioception is the ability to perceive the movement and position of our body in space. It is generated by receptors in our joints, connective tissues and muscles. When activated by pressure and motion, proprioceptors send direct signaling to the brain indicating the orientation of the body.
The vestibular system is the creation of balance and coordination according to changes in the center of gravity, posture and change of position of the head. As babies become aware of the five primary senses, they begin to generate deliberate movements and gradually learn to raise their heads, turn around, sit, crawl and finally walk.
One of the easiest ways to motivate proprioceptive and vestibular development is to leave our babies barefoot as much as possible!
1, 2, 3 walk!
Tracy Byrne, podiatrist who specializes in pediatric pediatrics, says wearing shoes too young can hinder the child's gait and brain development. "Toddlers keep their heads up when they walk barefoot," she says. "The returns they receive from the ground mean that it is less necessary to lower the eyes, which unbalances them and makes them fall. According to several studies, walking barefoot develops the muscles and ligaments of the foot, increases the strength of the arch, improves proprioception and contributes to good posture.
"We have come to consider how we live permanently in shoes as natural and natural," said John Woodward, a professor at Alexander Technique who has been walking barefoot for 25 years. He explains that while our urban environments are full of unnatural dangers, we can still learn from our primitive origins.
The human foot at birth is not a miniature version of the adult foot. In fact, it contains no bones and consists of a mass of cartilage that, over a period of years, ossifies to become the 28 bones that exist in the adult human foot. This process is only completed at the end of adolescence. It is therefore crucial that the shoes, if worn, are well chosen.
In summary
The barefoot walk makes a sensory contribution to the proprioceptive system, the vestibular system and the brain. Our feet have very strong neurological connections and many sensory cells. Walking with shoes can prevent the process of sending tactile feedback to our bodies because the sensors are not stimulated.
Walking barefoot from time to time can improve the baby's balance and coordination, as well as her spatial orientation skills. When the feet are stimulated appropriately, the brain cells grow faster, which will make the child more intelligent.
Babies are not the only ones who benefit from walking without shoes. It can also be a good idea for adults because this contact can still stimulate new neural connections so that they develop.
Explore, be free and let your new neural connections grow regardless of your age.
