One Thousand Soles is a Salem-based school project that seeks to improve the lives of the community’s youth. The shoe drive focuses on children who cannot afford to purchase proper footwear for their feet.  So far, the drive has collected 1,100 pairs of new and used shoes and $900 in donations.

"It's never crossed my mind that their feet hurt," Laurie Shaw, the city of Salem's youth development and prevention coordinator, commented. "This drive has opened our eyes to how great the need is. We've barely scratched the surface."

It is very important to keep children’s feet safe and healthy, so be sure to have their feet regularly checked by a podiatrist such as Dr. Bryant Tarr of Sudbury & Westford Podiatry. Dr. Tarr can diagnose any injuries as well as provide treatment options that work for you and your child.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet in childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care from birth to school-age.

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

· Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet
· Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’.  Be sure the child wears comfortable and protective shoes so that they can grow into their feet properly.

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet

• Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus
• Be watchful of any pain or injury
• Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible
• Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play

To learn more about keeping children’s feet healthy, follow link below.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices in Sudbury and Westford, MA.  We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more on Keeping Children’s Feet Healthy.