Bare feet at Garry Oak Place (Click here for Feet images & musings:))
How did it start?
When Gary Oak Place started, we adopted from other centers, the rule of we can walk bare feet on the grass and sand but need shoes to walk around the rest of the yard. After observing the children’s relationships with shoes, feet, each other, and others, we were curious to see what would happen if we allowed bare feet all over the yard. We decided to document our pedagogical inquiry for this wonderful moment.
Our Curiosities
Do they perceive the change of seasons differently with bare feet?
How might we experience the change of seasons through our feet?
- On hot sunny days or cool rainy days
How do children engage with yard and materials? Does it change if they are bare feet?
- With painting, sand, woodchips, grass…
How might children’s relationships differ? With bugs, with friends, with plants…
What opportunities arise when they are bare feet? For friendships or for nature?
- Touching toes each other, helping socks and shoes…
Are there limits to roadblocks to being bare feet?
- Bikes, tires…
How do children engage with bare feet outside of Garry Oak?
- At beach, park, yard, at home…
What kind of medicine are they receiving from the earth?
- Onion on feet would make fever go down, pressure points on feet (acupuncture)
Our feet… They bear our weight and allow for locomotion. We use our core but also our feet to balance ourselves on this earth. Have you ever spread your toes while adjusting your body into a standing (tadasana) or warrior pose? If not, remove your shoes and socks and step outside onto a natural landscape. Stand with your legs at hip width apart. Close your eyes. Feel the earth’s energy radiating through your feet. Feel the textures. Roll your feet side to side and wiggle your toes. Spread your toes apart. Do you feel your feet adapting while you stand balanced?
As a child I explored the world barefoot. All summer I ran down rocky dirt roads, asphalt roads and on sandy beaches. I often forgot my footwear in the car when we went to town and walked barefoot in stores as a result. Our feet adapt. The rocks did not hurt my feet most of the time… if they did… I put my flip flops on. If the sand was too hot, I put my flip flops on. No one told me. I learned this from experience. Critical thinking.
There are several benefits to barefoot experiences: When connecting our skin directly with the earth we benefit from experiencing the earth’s natural energy, 1/2 hour barefoot on our earth will allow negative electrons from the earth to counter free radicals in our body – end result we sleep better, pressure points are activated and our nervous system is supported, our muscles and joints are strengthened and we create a real connection with nature that surrounds us. https://www.ecoexplorers.com.au/5-reasons-why-you-should-let-your-child-go-barefoot/ Children who spent more time barefoot when compared to their peers in shoes were noticeably better in jumping and balancing by the age 6-10 years. https://aussiechildcarenetwork.com.au/articles/childcare-articles/children-going-barefoot-in-an-early-childhood-setting Some children benefit from deep pressure therapy. This can be provided through hugs, play that allows tumbling, construction building, a weighted blanket, or exploring barefoot. Not all footwear is made with quality in mind. Our feet are what nature, naturally provided us. Perfect for us in every way!
We do know learning is holistic. “Children are gaining knowledge as they create and test theories, explore the world, and express ideas”. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/early-learning/teach/earlylearning/early_learning_framework.pdf p. 25
I love that the children have the opportunity to test theories barefoot at Garry Oak Place. It is fabulous that the children have access to the opportunity of experimentation with their bodies in our world, and have the opportunity to create a ‘real’ connection to nature, and our planet. I look forward to reading/hearing about their choice of footwear during the changing seasons. Salal Place was explored barefoot yesterday, October 21 at 10 degrees Celsius.
Thank you Garry Oak Place, for these wonderful thoughts and questions! At Juniper Place, we often have moments of tension regarding feet! Several children at Juniper are drawn to having their bare feet on the earth and we are often questioning the when and the how of opportunities to have such experiences and engagements. The current transition in seasons had brought these questions back to the forefront for us. We hope that you will continue to share your bare feet journey at Garry Oak!