School has started, or is going to start in the next few days/weeks. So, I am going to pass along some words from my Physical Therapist colleagues- Please have your child wear appropriate footwear to school! Preschool and elementary children spend parts of every day on the playground or in a gym. So, please put safe and functional foot wear on your child. Appropriate foot wear includes sneakers (that fit- don't buy up a few sizes thinking to save money by wearing them longer- never works since kids ruin sneakers quickly) and tied, rubber-soled shoes. While little girls in flip flops or dressy shoes may look cute, it is not safe for them to wear these types of shoes to school. Dressy shoes are slippery and can cause your daughter to slip and fall, or to hang back and not run and play (This goes for boys and dressy shoes, as well). The dangers of flip flops, for both boys and girls, are self-explanatory. Although I think crocs are on the way out, there are still children wearing them to school Some schools have rules banning these ill-fitting, non-supportive shoes and the PTs I work with agree that they are not good, supportive shoes for children to wear to school. I feel that Crocs have there place- maybe to wear to swim practice or around the house, or on errands, but not at school. If it's raining and you want your child to wear rain boots to school (or snow boots in winter), be sure to send in sneakers for him/her to change into.
Part of your child's education is gross motor (in elementary and preschools) and you don't want to jeopardize this essential element of his education by allowing him/her to wear inappropriate footwear. Gross motor allows that movement break that young children need to fully function in the classroom. Research has shown an increase in attention and brain function if gross motor breaks are worked into the school day. So, allow your child to participate in the offered gross motor times so that he/she will function to the best of his/her ability in the classroom.
No comments:
Post a Comment