It all depends on where one lives whether it is “needed” or not.

In areas with extreme heat or cold weather; or by extension, where there is excessive rain/snow that makes outside activity harder to do, they are more likely to be greatly appreciated and used, than where there is temperate weather, and there are plenty of opportunities to recreate outdoors.

Children need an outlet to release energy. The weather doesn’t always cooperate and an indoor playground helps by providing them a place to release that energy.

Children need an outlet to release energy. The weather doesn’t always cooperate and an indoor playground helps by providing them a place to release that energy.

Should indoor playgrounds require bare feet?

Should indoor playgrounds require bare feet?

They should require “no outdoor shoes” so that no dirt is brought in. The idea is not to make the place dirty/smelly and to avoid the risk of injury/damage that comes with wearing shoes.

Personally I don’t see why anybody should wear socks if they can just go barefoot.

Clean bare feet are hygienic (just look at any swimming pool). That requires a washing facility because children who have walked barefoot might have dirty feet, or if they have worn shoes, sweaty feet. That’s why it’s best to ask all to wash their feet.

I don’t like the “socks required” regulation of some indoor playgrounds. Regular socks would be too slippery. Socks that have been worn in shoes might be sweaty, which could result in disgusting smells. So the only option there would be fresh and clean socks with non-slipping soles, but as they could simply play barefoot, as long as their feet are clean (see above), it’s not really needed.

I don’t like the “socks required” regulation of some indoor playgrounds. Regular socks would be too slippery. Socks that have been worn in shoes might be sweaty, which could result in disgusting smells. So the only option there would be fresh and clean socks with non-slipping soles, but as they could simply play barefoot, as long as their feet are clean (see above), it’s not really needed.

Is it actually better to have socks on rather than being barefoot, such as in an indoor playground?

If you like to increase your chances of slipping and falling then yes, socks are definitely better for that. Also, contrary to prevalent opinion, there is nothing hygienic about wearing socks. Socks are there to collect moisture and protect from bacteria and funghi inside the shoe. That is their sole purpose. Outside the shoe, a sock that is clean (wasn’t used in a shoe) will collect dust particles and whatever is on the floor (oh the number of times I had to remove something sticky and disgusting from a sock – and then continue to wear that same sock, unwashed). In addition, a used sock (take off shoes then walk into the playground without changing socks) will spread this moisture and germs around for everybody else’s socks to pick up. So you get a nice germ cocktail on your socks, then put it back in your shoe where it will grow thanks to a warm and humid environment. Perfect, no?

Bare feet develop a protection called the microbiome – a natural and healthy bacterial population that lives on your skin – which will simply eradicate any foreign microorganism that get stuck there (helped also by the Sun which can weaken and even kill such organisms). The microbiome of a socked or shod foot is often overwhelmed by the onslaught of such organisms thanks to the feet being in an unnatural environment which happens to be the perfect environment for the invading germs, so feet are at higher risk of developing bacterial and fungal infections.

So, in short, no. Wrapping your digits inside a cloth is not a good idea, except as form of protection from extreme (and I’m talking arctic or spacewalk type of extreme), toxic (contaminated soil, inuding from other organisms/parasites), or simply dangerous (heavy objects falling, sharp protrusions on the surface…) conditions. You won’t find those in an indoor playground.