Crocs Don’t Rock (A Pediatric PT Perspective)
Independent walking is an exciting time for parents and their child! Your little one is now walking on their own and exploring their environment. Playing barefoot at home is preferred in order to develop the arches in the feet and strengthen the foot/ankle muscles. But, if families need to leave the house, what is the most appropriate footwear to purchase for their child?
It is no secret that Crocs seem to be a popular choice amongst families. Kids and teens appear to love Crocs for their slip on style, comfortable fit and ability to accessorize them with their favorite jibbitz. However, from a pediatric PT standpoint, Crocs are not the optimal footwear to be placing on a child’s developing foot.
Why Crocs Aren’t Good For Your Child’s Feet
- The bones in our feet don’t begin to ossify (harden) until age 2 and the last bone doesn’t even begin to develop until age 3!
- The majority of bone development occurs before the age of 7 years old and our bones grow in response to outside stress. This means, poor footwear can lead to misshapen bones and eventually misalignment of the ankles, knees and hips.
- Little kids feet sweat 2x as much as an adult’s. Improper shoes such as Croc’s promote increased moisture production, blisters, difficulty balancing, and increase fall risk.
The Best Shoes For Your Child’s Foot Development
The best shoes for your child should:
- Be made of natural materials such as leather or canvas, not plastic, allowing the foot to breathe.
- Have Velcro straps or ties so you can better adhere it to your child’s foot.
- Have a wide toe box, allowing space for your little one to scrunch their toes to aid in balancing.
A company we frequently recommend, especially for new walkers, is Stride Rite. Some great options include the Adam Sneaker Sandal, Zips Kennedy Sneaker and Splash Sandal (for all those trips to the pool and splash pad this summer!) Another great option are New Balance sneakers, available in many sizes and colors.
In order to promote healthy foot and ankle development, prevent pain, decrease falls as well as improve balance, stability and optimal posture in our young kiddos, purchasing supportive footwear is a must! For more tips and tricks on investing in the best footwear for your kiddos, please contact one of our Pediatric Physical Therapists at AzOPT & Kids Place!
