Nursery World - Health & Well-Being

How one setting in West Sussex is encouraging the children to go barefoot outside. Meredith Jones Russell reports

Allowing young children to go barefoot provides a wealth of benefits. Experiencing different textures underfoot helps children gather information about the ground and the world around them, while podiatrists and academics suggest walking barefoot improves posture, foot strength and proprioception.

Walking without shoes also stimulates the senses in a different way and can be especially helpful for children with additional needs, such as sensory processing problems.

Inspired by the increasing popularity of barefoot play in Malaysia, where nursery director Hayley Peacock attended a conference this year, Little Barn Owls in Horsham launched a barefoot play project in May.

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