Back-to-School Foot Health Checklist for Parents

Familiar rituals are beginning throughout Caldwell and Meridian households. As you stock up on notebooks, pencils, and lunch boxes, your kids try on new backpacks. Shopping lists grow longer each day with classroom supplies and clothing requirements. Yet one important item often gets forgotten during back-to-school preparations: a foot health evaluation for growing children.

Healthy feet form the foundation for active school days filled with playground adventures, sports participation, and long walks between classes. So our skilled Idaho podiatrists at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle put together this handy back-to-school foot health checklist to help you identify potential concerns before they become serious issues. Taking time to assess your child's feet now sets the stage for a successful school year ahead.

Do a Quick Home Foot Inspection

Set aside 10 minutes for a fun "foot check-up" game with your child. Make it enjoyable by turning the inspection into a treasure hunt for healthy feet.

• Visual Check. Look for changes in color, new bumps, or unusual marks. Check between toes for white, scaly patches that might indicate athlete's foot—a lingering culprit of summer pool time and a common issue in locker rooms.
• Gentle Touch Test. Press lightly on different areas. Your child should feel comfortable during this check. Any tender spots deserve attention from a member of our podiatry team.
• Wart Watch. Examine the bottoms of feet for small, rough growths with tiny black dots. These are plantar warts, which often appear after walking barefoot in public areas like playgrounds and pools.

Here’s another tip: keep a photo record of your child's feet. This creates a helpful baseline for tracking any changes throughout the school year.

Encourage Daily Foot Hygiene Habits

Teaching good hygiene now creates lifelong healthy habits your child will appreciate.

1. Wash daily. Use soap and warm water, paying special attention between toes where bacteria love to hide.
2. Dry completely. Teach kids to dry feet thoroughly, especially between toes. Leftover moisture can lead to fungal infections.
3. Moisturize smart. Apply lotion to dry areas like heels, but skip the spaces between toes to prevent excess moisture buildup.
4. Change into fresh socks. If feet get sweaty during active play, switch out their socks at least once daily. Cotton or moisture-wicking materials work best.

How Can I Make My Child’s Nail Care Easier?

We get this question a lot! Younger children often wiggle and squirm their way out of toenail trimming, but consistent care helps them avoid painful problems in the future. We recommend: 

1. Use the proper trim technique. Cut nails straight across, never rounded. This prevents ingrown nails that can cause pain and infection.
2. Timing matters. Trim nails after bath time when they're softer and easier to manage. Leave a small white edge visible.
3. Choose the right tools. Use toenail clippers, not fingernail scissors. They provide better control and safer results.

School Shoe Shopping Success

On average, kids’ feet grow a half-size or more every few months! And they don’t stop growing until their mid-teens. So another vital action point on your back-to-school foot health checklist is to choose the right shoes. 

• Fit first. Measure feet regularly—remember, they'll change with every growth spurt. Shop in the afternoon when feet are naturally more swollen for the most accurate fit.
• Allow room to grow. Allow a thumb's width between the longest toe and shoe front. Shoes should feel great immediately, not after a painful break-in period.
• Support matters. Choose shoes with good arch support and cushioned soles. Athletic shoes work well for most school activities and provide the support growing feet need. 
• Get multiple pairs. Consider having two pairs to rotate. This allows shoes to dry completely between wears and reduces bacterial growth.
• Replace worn shoes promptly. Damaged footwear can affect how your child walks and increase injury risk during active play.

Here’s a helpful guide for kids' shoe shopping from the American Podiatric Medical Association. 

When to Call the Children’s Feet Specialists at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle

While most children's foot health needs can be managed at home, certain situations require our professional attention:

• Persistent pain. If they’re complaining about ongoing foot or leg pain that interferes with walking, running, or playing, it’s time for an examination. Growing pains are normal, but consistent discomfort needs more thorough evaluation.
• Signs of infection. Ingrown nails show redness, swelling, warmth, or discharge. Professional treatment prevents further complications and provides relief.
• Altered movement. Any differences in how your child walks, stands, or moves might indicate a gait disorder and require early intervention to prevent bigger problems later.
• Visible concerns. Warts, suspicious growths, or unusual changes such as flat feet can be remedied quickly with responsive treatment. 
• Sports injuries. We want to make sure your active child heals properly to prevent recurring problems, so we guide your family through footwear selection, effective stretching and strengthening techniques, and more. 

Starting the school year with healthy feet means more time for learning, playing, and growing—exactly what every parent wants for their child. Follow this back-to-school checklist and trust your instincts—if something concerns you about your child's feet, it's worth our dedicated attention, and we’re happy to help.