Haha, thanks for sharing, Nanna! I’ve never been to your beautiful country, but I could imagine the looks of shock. There are various no-shoes and no-service rules in the US and other countries that would make it alarming for people from these places to see others barefoot in these locations.

My daughter gets strange looks, cheers, sideways glances, and people who tell her, “You’re my hero,” when she takes her shoes off outdoors. Especially during the colder months and other challenging environments to walk barefoot, such as a long hike with sharp lava rock, like she often treads. She always carries her shoes with her just in case, but normally, she ties them to her backpack or pant loop for added effect as if to say, “Yeah, I have shoes; I just don’t need to wear them right now.” As she confidently walks by cool as a cucumber. I enjoy watching the various reactions of different people from all walks of life, and I think she does as well. Sometimes, I think the enjoyment she gets in seeing the variety of each one is the primary reason she chose to take her shoes off–lol!

Hello Rado, it can hurt them, yes.

This is why it’s important to ensure that children are aware of and on the lookout for hazards. But whether they get hurt and how much pain they are in will depend on several factors; including what it is that they step on.

If they go barefoot often enough things that would hurt tender feet like rocks, or hot sand probably won’t bother them as much if at all. Because the feet develop calluses to protect them when you walk barefoot outside.

So, if you allow your children to go barefoot, it’s best to teach them about hazards to be on the lookout for, and help them become aware of their surroundings so they don’t get hurt.

I hope that helps,
Nell

Hi Mickie, I’m so sorry that I missed your comment, and yes, I think that would be fine–but you have probably already done it by now–lol! My daughter popped in and out of the stroller with and without shoes on, depending on how cold it was, from the time she was two years old. And, yes, sometimes I had to tell her to put her shoes on to go into a shop. She was never happy about this, but she would always comply. But, by the time she went to kindergarten, she was happy to put shoes on her feet when she needed to, but she still prefers to dance barefoot in the rain no matter how cold. So, let her stay barefoot and fancy-free whenever you can for the rest of your life!

I agree with you Dinu, spending much of life barefoot makes for a happier and healthier life! So glad to hear that you have been a barefoot hiker since the age of three–wow! My daughter will grow up saying the same. So stay footloose and fancy-free and enjoy walking barefoot as often as possible.

Thank you, Rachel! I will go look for it and get back to you soon. 🙂

You are too kind, Rachel!

Use the contact form at the top of the page and put “Shoe Fence” in the subject line.

Looking forward to hearing more about it,

Nell