Some 'good to knows' about your toddler's toes

Your toddler probably has a good relationship with their toes, odd though that might sound. Whether they have mouthed them as a baby or used them during singing times, they'll have likely provided entertainment! But our toes provide much more than that: their ability to keep us active is actually mind blowing! 

We probably don’t really pay much attention to our toes; we might paint them from time to time, or clip and file them. 

But without our toes, many daily tasks would be impossible

Our toes help us to:  

• Walk  
• Jump 
• Balance  
• Run  
• Stand 
• Climb 
• Dance 
• Turn around 
• Go on tiptoes 
• Play sport 

Toes are strong and clever; when the entire weight of the body is on them, they flex wider to help provide a stable base.  

When your toddler stands on their tiptoes, they hold their entire body weight on some of the smallest bones in the body. 

Your toddler’s toes (and yours) send information to the brain which helps the body move. 

Any slight adjustments the toes make are interpreted by the brain and used to stop our bodies from falling.  

Research tells us that when moving, our toes are constantly in contact with the ground, and they help us maintain our centre of gravity and manage posture.[1] 

As a result, when your toddler tries to move in any way, their toes and brain collaborate to keep them upright. 

So, toes work hard to keep us active, fit, social, balanced and upright. It might be time to pay more attention to them! 

Reference: 

[1] Saito R, Okamoto S, Sakamoto M. (2019) ‘Effect of toe contact condition during forward stepping on the ground reaction forces during turning movement’. J Phys Ther Sci. 31(4):344-348.