These Shoes Were Made for Walking - The Best Footwear for a Doman Method Program
If you’re ready to start a walking and running program for your child, you want to make sure that your child has the right footwear. This is a vital part of your child’s program. They need to be comfortable and have just enough support.
What do you look for in a pair of shoes for your kid?
Here are the top criteria:
1. No arch support is necessary.
Many parents are told that their child has abnormal foot structure and that inserts or insoles are needed. In our experience, the flatter the inside of the shoe, the foot structure will naturally start to improve. Arch support may put the foot in the right position but often strengthens muscles that are working too hard and weakens muscles that have to work better. When a child is as close to barefoot as possible, Mother Nature starts to mold that foot into shape. And plus, some kids are genetically more flat-footed - they may not even need the arch support.
2. The thinner, the better!
When going down the shoe aisle, you may notice that the kids’ shoes look kind of clunky. The heel is thick or the whole sole seems pretty big. For our kids on the Doman Program, we urge parents to find the thinnest, flattest sole possible. The thinner the sole, the easier it is for the foot to develop structure naturally. Secondly, many kids on our program have sensory issues -- they may not feel their feet as well as other kids do. Having a thinner sole will allow them to really feel the ground underneath them while keeping the foot protected.
3. Make sure the shoes are flexible.
Often, I will look at kids’ shoes and it may look flat and have a thin sole, but it has no give or flexibility! It’s as stiff as a board. Foot structure changes if the foot can move freely. So, before buying a part of shoes for your child, do a bend test. If it’s really flexible at the toes, then you know your child will be able to move their feet easily.
Doman International recommends a few brands that meet all or most of these criteria.
What is available completely depends on where you are in the world. But, most of these can be found online worldwide.
ADIDAS:
Specifically, look for the indoor soccer models like Nemeziz or Super Sala. These Sambas were super popular when I was growing up and gave me a ton of speed on the playground!
Tsukihoshi:
These are a bit on the pricier side but are excellent quality. Make sure that you find the right model (some models are pretty thick-soled). These Racers, Kaz, or Mako models are best. For little feet, try the Neko model.
Vivo Barefoot:
These are a great option for older kids as they are usually available in the bigger sizes. Vivo does make women’s and men’s sizes, so for some kids on our program who are young teens, teens, and adults, there are options as well. Vivo’s kid model shoe is called Primus, which comes with a few different changes (light versions, straps, or draw cord instead of ties).
Can’t find these? Don’t worry - just bring your criteria checklist above to the store and make sure you’re getting something that fits, is flexible, and flat.