Do your kids play barefoot in the backyard?

[Anonymous]

My kids have never gone barefoot outside much.

DH said when he was a kid in the late 1970s, from the time school let out at the end of May until it started again at the end of August, his summer attire was a pair of cutoffs. Except for church, Scout meetings and Little League games, he was barefoot and shirtless.

Played outside until the street lights came on, rode his bike all over town, no such thing as sunscreen, just complete freedom to be a boy. Somehow he survived and at 59 is still handsome and healthy.

My own kids had a very different summer where their life was much more structured. Not saying the past was better, but maybe somewhere in between on things like going barefoot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to assume the majority of these posters spend the day arguing with their kids about trivial things. Put on shoes because there could be a cat? LOL

Yes, mine are barefoot quite often. Fine by me.

Cats are one of the most filthy domesticated animals to exist, and spread parasites and diseases to humans. Useless animal overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why or why not? We’ve historically had a semi-strict “wear sneakers or sandals” policy but are wondering whether to relax it.

Keep shoes on. One time did notvsnd daughter stepped on something that gashed her foot

[Anonymous]

All these people terrified of the grass. And then they wonder why their kids are allergic to the world and too anxious to sleep alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on some of these responses, it should be no surprise that anxiety rates have been skyrocketing for kids. Kids should be able to go through life without being told to worry about animal feces when walking through grass — although I don’t recommend deliberately walking in poop and would mention this to my kid if she didn’t already naturally know to avoid this.

+1. People aren’t dying because they step on animal poop. The population with the lowest share of allergies in America are the Amish-they’re outdoors all the time and exposed to everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on some of these responses, it should be no surprise that anxiety rates have been skyrocketing for kids. Kids should be able to go through life without being told to worry about animal feces when walking through grass — although I don’t recommend deliberately walking in poop and would mention this to my kid if she didn’t already naturally know to avoid this.

I am 50 and from Texas. I always wore shoes when playing outside and so did my friends. Snakes, cockleburrs, fire ants. Pick your pain. My mom is also from the South and claimed we would get "worms" if we ran around without shoes. I personally think my mom was concerned that neighbors would think we were low class if we ran around without shoes.

[Anonymous]

Yes and they have strong and hardy feet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes and they have strong and hardy feet!

Hardy?

[Anonymous]

Unless they are going through the sprinkler or something, no. Just not my thing.

[Anonymous]

Our default is shoes/sandals but if the take them off in warm weather I don't hugely care. We also do a lot of water play, sprinklers etc where they start off in water sandals but usually prefer without.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on some of these responses, it should be no surprise that anxiety rates have been skyrocketing for kids. Kids should be able to go through life without being told to worry about animal feces when walking through grass — although I don’t recommend deliberately walking in poop and would mention this to my kid if she didn’t already naturally know to avoid this.

+1. People aren’t dying because they step on animal poop. The population with the lowest share of allergies in America are the Amish-they’re outdoors all the time and exposed to everything.

The males wear boots constantly too. The woman always wear shoes outdoors. Common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on some of these responses, it should be no surprise that anxiety rates have been skyrocketing for kids. Kids should be able to go through life without being told to worry about animal feces when walking through grass — although I don’t recommend deliberately walking in poop and would mention this to my kid if she didn’t already naturally know to avoid this.

I am 50 and from Texas. I always wore shoes when playing outside and so did my friends. Snakes, cockleburrs, fire ants. Pick your pain. My mom is also from the South and claimed we would get "worms" if we ran around without shoes. I personally think my mom was concerned that neighbors would think we were low class if we ran around without shoes.

Toxoplasmosis, Trich, Hook, Pin, Tape, worms etc. are real. Some are not as common these days, as more swine or bovine spread, but some are definitely still around if cats or dogs roam or rats are around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on some of these responses, it should be no surprise that anxiety rates have been skyrocketing for kids. Kids should be able to go through life without being told to worry about animal feces when walking through grass — although I don’t recommend deliberately walking in poop and would mention this to my kid if she didn’t already naturally know to avoid this.

+1. People aren’t dying because they step on animal poop. The population with the lowest share of allergies in America are the Amish-they’re outdoors all the time and exposed to everything.

I do agree with that part though, just a scientific fact that exposure can lower allergic reactions and prevent asthma or even cure it.

However one does not develop immunity to parasites, HPV from the soil/plantar's warts, bacterial infections, etc.

[Anonymous]

I have literally never bothered to think about this before. They generally wear shoes when they go outside but if they are putting the sprinkler or playing with the hose they’d be barefoot.

[Anonymous]

Sure.