© Can Stock Photo / gilmourbto2001
Observation: Kids With Bare Feet In Winter
This “Observation” post is the first in a series of posts I will be doing. Observations of what I see out there in the world.
Now this might seem like a judgemental series, and in a way I guess it is. However, I want to be able to have a conversation about things without people jumping to conclusions about me being a horrible person.
Remember: WE ALL JUDGE. It’s what we do as human beings. It’s what we do with that judgement that defines us as a person. I’m not here to crucify anyone, I’m here to start a conversation.
We all look at certain situations and think “Huh? What is happening here?” … instead of just thinking it, I’m going to verbalise these and see if we can get a conversation going.
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I went for a walk and noticed a child scootering from a dairy, presumably, back home. My guess is the child was about 8 years old.
It was 8am, and it was 9 degrees outside.
The child was wearing a tee shirt, track pants, and had bare feet.
Now when I get my walk on, my body heats up, so I understand the whole “he’s scootering so probably doesn’t feel the cold” – but when he first stepped outside he would have felt it. Also, I’m wearing track pants, a jacket, plus socks and shoes. So essentially the important bits are covered.
My first thought is worry – “what if that kid is cold” … “what if he gets sick” … “do his parents know he’s out scootering at this hour”. “Do they know he’s wearing no shoes”.
Of course this is judgement – I’m judging a situation that’s in front of me. Like all of us would do.
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My question to you is: do you think children don’t feel the cold?
Because my experience (along with experience from my Mother, and Grandmother) has been that a child’s ability to regulate their body temperature isn’t the same as an adult’s. Which means it’s up to us to keep them covered; to remind them to keep warm.
Heck my own kids would walk around with no clothes on if they weren’t told to put something on.
In winter the bugs are rampant, but I really don’t know whether or not having bare feet contributes to that.
My experience has been that the change in temperature is what can do it. From a warmish house, to the freezing cold outside; where the body’s temperature drops suddenly.
I don’t know the science behind it, so feel free to correct me! These are just my thoughts.
I just found this online “Being cloistered indoors with the cold virus present is far more likely to get you sneezing. However at least one study has shown some correlation between the cold and wet and the common cold: half a group sat with their feet in cold water for 20 minutes, then went into a room with the cold virus present, while the other half of the group missed out on the cold water torture. More people within the cold water group ended up with a cold – or at least reported cold-like symptoms. Not an infallible study, but perhaps warranting at least a brief drying of the hair before venturing outdoors in cold weather – that, or the fact that wet hair on your neck doesn’t feel that nice in cold weather anyhow.” (it’s from a NZ Herald article so I’d take that with a grain of salt LOL).
Also check out this Stuff article “Ask a Scientist: Feet Keep Us Warm”.
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I totally understand that some kids HATE wearing socks/shoes. I’ve been through this – but for me personally I hate knowing my kids are cold.
When I am out and see kids wearing hardly any clothes, and it’s freezing outside, I do worry for them. Just like I’d worry for my own kids if I knew they didn’t have any clothes on.
I worry that because they’re cold they’re more likely to pick up a bug and get sick, which then in turn gets others sick. It’s a vicious cycle!
Do you worry when you see kids with no socks / proper warm clothes on?
NOTE: these are my observations on this topic. Of course it’s a form of judgement but I don’t think any less of the parent who does not put socks on their child. My main concern and worry is always for the child who may be cold.
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