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"Barefoot education" is hotly debated

Differences in several physical aspects between children who walk barefoot and those who do not

By Lu DaPublished 3 years ago 3 min read

I believe that many parents when they see their children walking barefoot are always worried that they will get sick, after all, Chinese medicine says that cold starts from the feet and some parents are also worried about germs, so there are fewer opportunities for children to walk barefoot and play. However, in Japanese schools, they create special conditions for children to walk barefoot, for example, kindergartens will carry out "barefoot education", by setting up sand or wooden floors for children to walk barefoot, what are the benefits of doing so?

What are the benefits of "barefoot education"?

In some kindergartens, elementary and middle schools in Japan, groups of students can be seen walking or playing in the sand or on the playground with their bare feet under the guidance of teachers. Local educators believe that releasing the feet in the natural sunlight and air and walking/playing uninhibited can promote blood circulation in the feet and enhance the metabolism of the body, which has the effect of enhancing appetite and improving resistance to disease and cold.

So what is the difference between children who walk barefoot and those who don't? (What are the benefits of walking barefoot)

1、Promote intellectual development

The human foot brings together numerous meridians and acupuncture points, walking barefoot can massage and stimulate these parts, and children can get different feelings according to different ground temperatures, pressure, bump, etc., which is good for promoting brain development and enhancing intelligence.

2, improve memory

A survey found that walking barefoot than walking in shoes can significantly improve memory, this is because when people walk barefoot, the brain avoids obstacles have been in a state of tension, and high concentration, to protect the feet from injury, which can stimulate the memory center of the brain.

3, enhance physical fitness

According to a survey found that in Japan, "barefoot education" after about 80% of the children's physical fitness significantly enhanced. This is because young children's thermoregulatory center has not yet been perfect, the soles of the feet can heat regulation of body temperature, and barefoot walking can stimulate the palms of the feet, promote blood circulation, and enhance metabolism, so that the immune system is enhanced, reducing the probability of illness, which is perhaps the original purpose of the implementation of "barefoot education" in Japan.

4、Prevent flat feet

Japanese research shows that walking barefoot for a long time can reduce the occurrence of flat feet in young children. Because barefoot can make the child get the unevenness of the road changes brought about by the physical feeling, increase the friction between the skin of the foot and the ground, and enhance muscle strength, not only can make walking more stable, but also prevent children from shoe constraints and lead to flat feet and another abnormal foot shape.

5、Relieve mental stress

Walking barefoot on a paved pavement with cobblestones can effectively relieve stress because at this time the nerves of the whole body will be somewhat relaxed, similar to giving the soles of the feet a massage.

Baby walking barefoot when the precautions

1, do not expose the baby's little feet to the air for a long time, when the outdoor temperature is low, do not try to walk barefoot to avoid illness.

2, when the baby walks barefoot, parents must check the safety of the road, to avoid walking by small stones, glass slag, screws, and other dangerous objects scratch.

3, if it is walking barefoot on a smooth floor, make sure there are no excess water stains or sticky slippery liquid on it to avoid falls and bruises.

4, the length of barefoot walking should be properly controlled, not too long, generally about a quarter of an hour to avoid wear and tear on the sole, causing pain.

5, if the baby's feet have wounds, do not walk barefoot, or bacteria, dust is likely to take advantage of the opportunity to invade the body, causing infection, abscesses, and other problems.

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Lu Da

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