Back-to-School Basics - Kroko Shares the ABCs of Foot Hygiene for Kids

As children head back to school, parents understandably focus on essentials like stationery, uniforms, and backpacks. However, a child’s health must be a priority to ensure they’re benefitting completely from teaching and learning. One area that is often overlooked but requires significant attention is footcare – this not only ensures a child’s comfort at school, but lays a long and important foundation for foot health.

“While children will spend a large portion of their academic day in the classroom, playtime outside and sports activities are also fundamental aspects of a child’s social and educational journey,” explains Lynsey Hammond, MD for Kroko, manufacturers of leading South African footcare products. “We need to ensure we’re protecting our children’s feet while in this growing phase to ensure no long-term challenges later in life. Footcare is a vital aspect of overall healthcare.”

Here are Kroko’s ABCs for keeping those little feet happy and healthy:

A: Always Choose the Right Footwear and Socks

Ill-fitting shoes or socks can cause discomfort, blisters, or even long-term foot problems. When selecting footwear for children, it’s important that the shoes and socks are the correct size. This means having enough room for the toes to wiggle freely, while also being snug enough to provide ample support. School socks must also be breathable, with feet kept dry to reduce the risk of fungal infections. It’s well worth packing spare socks in case the child’s socks get wet during the day.

B: Be Proactive About Foot Health

Regular foot maintenance prevents common issues like ingrown toenails and skin infections. Ensure your child trims their toenails as keeping them short and straight will prevent painful ingrowth and discomfort in shoes. While wearing shoes is necessary at times, children should also be encouraged to walk barefoot in safe, clean environments. This strengthens the foot muscles and promotes natural development.

C: Care for Warts and Athlete’s Foot

Addressing foot health issues early can prevent future complications. Check for Athlete’s Foot – this presents with redness, peeling, or itching between toes. If these symptoms appear, it’s important to treat them promptly and advise your child not to remove their shoes at school to prevent spreading. In addition, you must treat any warts you notice on your child’s feet. If a wart appears, make sure you use an effective wart treatment that will kill the virus and prevent it from spreading. Both of these thrive in moist, shared spaces like locker rooms.

Products to Support Your Child’s Foot Health

To make footcare easier and more effective for your child, consider these helpful products from Kroko:

• Kroko Foot Powder will keep feet dry and reduce odour-causing moisture.
• Kroko Foot Spray will refresh feet on the go while providing antifungal and antibacterial protection.
• Wart Fix by Kroko is a targeted solution to treat warts quickly and safely.

By prioritising foot hygiene, you’re not just protecting your child’s feet today, you’re also helping prevent irreversible damage that could affect their future. Happy, healthy feet mean happy, active kids ready to tackle a successful school year!

For more information, visit www.kroko.co.za or email info@kroko.co.za. Keep updated on all Kroko news by following Krokofootcare on Facebook or kroko_footcare on Instagram.