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>Hello, my daughter Rita will soon be three years old >and has never worn solid shoes in her life. As an >enthusiastic mother I want to give her the best >childhood possible which means plenty of fun >experiences, meeting other children and living outside >in garden and nature, the ability to choose her >favourite activities, finding out new things every >day, living out her need to move and keep active. >So our focus is not on instructing her to sit still >and do as told. We are both spending plenty of time >with her, but we are finding out she also starts to >get independent and likes to do things without >parental supervision. >It was my idea to keep her diaper-free as much as >possible (that worked remarkably well) and to let her >live barefoot everywhere (if possible: she needed warm >socks and mittens only outside on the coldest days of >winter). That's part of an awesome childhood (I >remember some barefoot moments of my own childhood and >I want to give her more such moments). >Going out with her in spring, summer, into autumn let >me to rediscovering the joys of barefooting too, soon >she actually proved to be tougher than me, choosing to >go barefoot until it's freezing and even going out in >snow a bit. I made sure that her feet are fine, with >no pain or signs of frost damage. The effects are >enormous, she has a splendid circulation and robust >health, she walks and runs steadily, learning to climb >trees and she's quite strong for such a little child. >When it's sunny and cold outside she will wear her >legwarmers, jacket and wool hat, enjoying herself >barefoot while I wear shoes. Somehow a cheerful >barefoot child brings a smile on everybody's face, >she's our little sunshine! >We are all barefoot at home all the time. For Rita >bare feet are normal and shoes are what adults wear >outside. That's how we decided to frame it and that's >how she likes it best. In summer a number of her >friends go barefoot as well, in colder seasons she's >the only one but that's no big deal. >It's great that you consider this lifestyle for your >children, it's certainly a gift because it brings so >many more tactile experiences (besides the practical >aspects of not having to keep track of shoe sizes, to >wash, dry and sort shoes and socks ...) I recommend to >spend time barefoot with them during the first years >so you feel the same things and can teach them about >where it's pleasant and what might be dangerous to >step on. Rita is splendid in that regard, going over >rough pavement and gravel with no difficulties, at the >end of a day in town her soles will be black (a sight >all parents of barefoot children quickly get used to) >but totally unharmed, soft but tough leathery skin.

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