Indoor Shoes or Barefoot at Nursery School? — Exploring "Our Family's Optimal Solution" for Balancing Child Development and Safety —

Should children wear indoor shoes at daycare, or should they go barefoot? In recent years, more daycare centers have been adopting "barefoot education," which is believed to stimulate brain and motor function development through diverse sensory input from the soles of the feet. However, there are also strong voices advocating for the use of indoor shoes due to safety concerns such as infection prevention and the risk of falls or injuries. This article comprehensively examines the optimal choice tailored to each child's developmental stage and daycare environment by integrating research on children's foot morphology, hygiene guidelines, real-world daycare management examples, and parent survey results. We will outline the advantages and disadvantages of both indoor shoes and going barefoot, provide criteria for implementation and review, discuss size selection, foot care, and offer tips for a hybrid approach, all from the perspective of "foot education." By the end of this article, you should be able to create a practical roadmap for families and daycare centers to collaboratively protect children's feet and future.