Parents for Barefoot Children

The nonprofit Parents for Barefoot Children promotes sensible barefoot activity for children. The site authors believe that it is generally healthy to go barefoot, in particular for children, most of the time, and that they should have our support and encouragement to do so whenever possible. They warn that "children suffer from this shoe-obsessed society almost from the moment of birth ... resulting in weak, deformed, unhealthy, desensitized and unhappy feet" and remind us that "young children are generally resistant to being shod. There are reasons for this!"

This attractive and well-organized site covers common concerns ("Where?", "Where not?" and "When?"), medical research, barefoot activities for children, famous people known for going barefoot, statements from podiatrists, letters from parents, a charming collection of artwork that shows barefoot living, and links to related resources. Excerpts from the book Take Off Your Shoes and Walk by Dr. Simon Wikler support the belief that barefooted children have healthier feet.

"If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall."

From the poem "I'd Pick More Daisies" by Nadine Stair, age 85 (see "Bare Feet in Literature")

 
www.unshod.org/pfbc/