Ben Wang, June 10th – When it comes to buying shoes for children, how many parents really consider the health aspects? According to a recent local survey, many parents are unaware of how foot problems can affect a child’s overall growth and don’t know how to choose appropriate, healthy footwear. Since a child's foot skeleton is still developing, flat feet are quite common, which can lead to tiredness and long-term issues if not addressed.
Around the age of four, children start forming their arches gradually. A primary school in Yuexiu District of Guangzhou conducted a footprint analysis on 1,282 students, and the results showed that nearly 70% had varying degrees of flat feet. However, most of these students were unaware of their condition, and their parents lacked the knowledge to properly care for their children’s foot health.
Associate Professor Liu Peng from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University explained that children typically begin to develop their arches around the age of four. Due to the immaturity of their foot bones, flat feet are common, leading to fatigue and potential complications such as plantar fasciitis, X-shaped legs, lower back pain, knee pain, and even bone spurs. Parents should take this issue seriously and address it early to prevent long-term consequences.
Professor Wu Kunying, an adjunct professor at the School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, and a health consultant at Dr. Kong’s shoe shop, recommends that parents conduct regular foot examinations for children aged 4 to 14 every four months. This helps monitor foot development and allows for early intervention if any problems arise. In addition, simple exercises like toe training, claw toe exercises, and bouncing can help strengthen the arches and reduce the risk of flat feet-related issues.
Wearing the right shoes and insoles is also crucial. Many popular canvas shoes, while comfortable, may not be ideal for children whose feet are still developing. Wu Kunying noted that these shoes tend to be too soft and lack proper shock absorption, especially in the heel cup and midsole areas, which are important for healthy foot development. In some cases, insoles alone may not be sufficient to prevent flat foot complications.
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Other tips for parents:
- Old shoes at home can be transformed into stylish spikes with a little creativity.
- Don't throw away old shoes—instead, let them "breathe" by opening them up.
- Add a physical insurance policy to your shoes for extra protection.
- How to clean the matte surface of your shoes? It’s easier than you think.
- Pair your shoes with breathable, antibacterial, and deodorizing socks to keep your feet fresh.
- The small tail on sports shoes actually has three hidden functions you might not know about.
- High-heeled shoes can make noise—here are four ways to reduce the sound.
- Choosing the right shoes during pregnancy is essential; flat shoes may not always be safe.
- What to do if your shoes get moldy? There’s a simple fix.
- Wearing certain shoes in the summer could harm your feet—be cautious.
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