Children Who Walk Clumsily.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 11, 14 March 1908, Page 48

Children Who Walk Clumsily.

“New shoes!” says the tot of two years, holding out a pair of shiny anklestraps, with smart bows and buckles. Sometimes they are a good fit, but often the tiny instep “bulges” above the ridge, and, when the slippers are taken oil, a red outline of the pressure is seared into the sensitive skin. A size too small; and though the wee “Cinderella” looks very sweet, the sacrifice of baby’s health and comfort is too high a price to pay for- such vanity. Do you notice the numbers of children who walk clumsily. Some drag their feet along as though they were such heavy burdeijg. Take off their boots, weigh them, and you may be astonished at the load a pair of little tender feet have had to carry. Heavy shoes are sometimes bought for economy’s sake. But even though “clumpy” boots represent a slight saving in shoe-leather, it is dear economy to injure a child’s health and ease. Stout, substantial shoes need not be over-weighty. Too heavy boots restrict a child's healthful runs and romps, and they teach him to walk clumsily. An awkward walk is easy to acquire and hard to cure, and nothing causes such a “slouchy” carriage as badly-made or illfitting shoes. A mother should never trust her children’s boot-buying to anybody else, nor allow a shopman to decide that “these shoes fit capitally.” “Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.” But it is astonishing how much discomfort some children submit to— little girls especially—for the sake of new shoes. “Perfect ease, with a little room left for growing,” is the motto in buying shoes for the nursery. When shoes seem tight, “They’ll be all right when you’ve been wearing them for a few walks,” says nurse. This is all wrong. No child should wear boots which cause pain or pressure the first time he wears them. Corns, bunions, tender feet, and clumsy walking are the crop of evils raised by wearing such shoes. Run your hands inside some children’s shoes, and you will find hard ridges and improperly-finished seams. A baby 7

learning to walk gets blisters on its feet. Nobody thought whether the lining of his first pair of shoes was soft enough for the sensitive little foot. School-children’s stockings are often mended so coarsely that irritating ridges appear at heels and toes, causing discomfort and chafing. To ensure a free and graceful walk too much care cannot be taken during childhood. Socks and shoes should be carefully chosen, and examined periodically to prevent chafing or foot “pinching.” If a clumsy walk develops discover the cause. A boy’s suit may be too tight. Doctors say this is a common cause of serious illness. 111-fitting braces make a boy stoop and slouch. Heels down cause a sideways crab-like walk. A little girl’s petticoats being too heavy, she “drags” in walking, sometimes her stock-ing-suspenders are too tight. Whatsoever the cause, cure clumsy walking in children.