Benefits of Free Dress and Bare Feet

While many schools have made the wearing of shoes and uniforms mandatory,The River School has always given students the choice as to what attire they wear and whether or not they wear shoes.

Uniforms can stifle the diversity and creativity that is essential in nurturing young minds. Giving children a dress choice encourages individuality and self-expression, and importantly, allows children the freedom to wear what feels comfortable at school to engage in various school activities, including play.

At The River School we discourage the wearing of labels on clothing that promote companies whose profits are harmful to the environment and humanity, i.e. those endorsing pseudo culture.

Choosing appropriate attire for different settings teaches adaptability and decision-making skills. Uniform policies do not expose students to the decision-making process involved in dressing for different occasions and environments or developing their own personal style.

Instead of creating a culture of judgement, it does the opposite; enhancing self-confidence, strengthening positive self-image and celebrating a culture of diversity and inclusion.

Similarly, there is extensive research that proves going barefoot has enormous benefits to the overall development and well-being of children.

Physically, going barefoot helps improve proprioception, balance, and coordination, enhancing the child’s spatial awareness and motor skills.

It also creates the conditions for a range of sensory experiences and an appreciation and connection with nature. Children need to feel part of nature to want to look after it.

9 health and developmental benefits that walking barefoot brings

1. Improved Foot Strength and Arch Development: Walking barefoot allows the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the feet to strengthen and develop naturally, fostering a healthy arch and proper alignment.
2. Enhanced Balance and Coordination: Being barefoot encourages better proprioception and spatial awareness, helping children develop improved balance and coordination skills.
3. Sensory Stimulation: The soles of the feet are rich in nerve endings, and going barefoot exposes children to various textures, temperatures, and surfaces. This sensory input contributes to overall sensory development.
4. Natural Gait and Movement: Walking without shoes promotes a more natural gait and movement pattern, allowing children to develop a more efficient and biomechanically sound way of walking and running.
5. Prevention of Foot Deformities: Going barefoot may help prevent certain foot deformities, such as flat feet, by allowing the arches to develop properly and the foot muscles to strengthen.

6. Promotes Healthy Joint Alignment: Barefoot walking can contribute to proper joint alignment, potentially reducing the risk of joint and posture issues later in life.
7. Boosts Circulation: The unrestricted movement of the feet without shoes can contribute to enhanced blood circulation, benefiting overall cardiovascular health.
8. Development of Confidence: Mastering the skill of walking and playing barefoot can boost a child’s confidence as they become more attuned to their body and its capabilities.
9. Improves Mood: Being in direct contact with the earth improves electrical activity in the brain and releases endorphins which can improve mood and counteract mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. When walking barefoot, our body absorbs free ions from the earth’s surface, which act as antioxidants.