The days are getting hot and humid here on Long Island, and that means one thing: it’s almost camp time! As the kids get excited and the parents get overwhelmed by packing all those sleepaway camp essentials, Dr. Mark Gasparini and Dr. Novneet Chhabra have one more item to add to your list: considerations for your child’s foot health! (Sorry, not sorry!)
You see, while you’re labeling t-shirts and digging out sleeping bags from your closets, taking just a few simple steps will protect your kids’ feet from harm, all summer long. So, while it may add a few minutes to your very long to-do list, we hope you’ll follow these five tips from the Foot Specialists of Long Island.
Key Takeaways
- Camp activities and facilities increase kids' risk for ingrown toenails, athlete's foot and sports injuries
- Packing sleepaway camp essentials like shower shoes, lots of extra socks and telling kids to check their feet for changes can help prevent injuries
- Choosing sandals and sneakers that let feet breathe and offer lots of support will also keep foot pain from ruining the summer fun at camp
Table of Contents
5 Foot Health Sleepaway Camp Essentials ![A group of kids at overnight camp]()
Sleepaway camp can take a big toll on pediatric foot health. Between the shared showers and pool decks; non-stop sports; and no parental supervision, many kids come home from camp with more than just memories. In fact, concerns like ingrown toenails, athlete’s foot infections, sprains and strains or even foot fractures are common camp souvenirs. Want to avoid these complications? Here are 5 key steps to take right now, while you’re preparing for their send-off:
1. Trim kids’ toenails (the right way) before they head off for camp.
Let’s be honest: no matter how often you pack nail clippers or scissors in their toiletries case, kids often forget about nail care while at camp. Unfortunately, long toenails can rub painfully against the edge of children’s shoes: especially when they’re gone for the whole summer, giving their feet plenty of time to grow! When that happens, your child will experience pain, and an increased risk for an ingrown toenail. To protect them, trim kids’ nails before they leave for camp. Cut nails straight across, and be careful not to cut the nails too short at the corners.
2. Make sure they have some shower shoes.
Camp showers are not known for their cleanliness. But, in truth, any kind of communal shower can increase your risk for developing an athlete's foot infection or plantar warts. Luckily, the fix here is easy: pack your child some flip-flops to wear in the shower. Just make sure they have decent traction, to prevent slips and falls on wet, slick surfaces.
3. Pack lots of extra socks.
It’s a known facts that dryers eat socks, and that’s all the more likely to happen in a camp setting. However, that’s not the main reason to consider extra socks to be sleepaway camp essentials. Here’s the real reason for this tip: we want your child to change into clean, dry socks every time they play sports, or after their feet get wet or sweaty. If they have enough pairs to follow this suggestion, they’ll be less likely to come home with stinky feet, fungal infections or painful blisters.
4. Teach your kids about daily foot check-ins.
With all the fun going on, day and night, at an overnight camp, it’s easy for small foot problems to go unnoticed. But it’s much easier to heal a small blister, a slightly ingrown toenail, or a mild skin irritation. To help your child stay on top of their foot health while at camp, encourage them to wash their feet with soap and water daily, and to quickly check their feet afterward for any signs of redness, pain or other physical changes. Then, if anything seems off, make sure they know to report those concerns to the camp mom or the infirmary staff.
5. Check the fit of every shoe you pack for camp.
Well-fitting shoes are the most important of all your child’s sleepaway camp essentials. We all know that children’s feet grow quickly. So sending kids to camp with a pair of shoes that just barely fits is a recipe for disaster: especially if they’ll be gone for the entire summer. Before you put any shoe pair in a camp trunk: check for the following: there should be plenty of wiggle room for kids’ toes in the shoes’ toe box, and the shoes should not be displaying excessive signs of wear and tear. Need more tips for finding the perfect shoes for camp? Keep reading for tips, below!
Finding the Best Camp Sandals and Sneakers for Kids
Clearly, the right pairs of shoes are true sleepaway camp essentials. As we mentioned earlier, kids will need shower shoes to protect them from warts and fungal infections. But they’ll need more supportive styles for other activities. When it comes to finding the best camp sandals for your kids, look for pairs that offer plenty of arch support, and ones that come with straps at the back so that shoes don’t slip and slide. Breathability is also an important feature for camp sandals, so try to find styles constructed from natural fibers, with openings at the toe to prevent moisture build-up.
Next, it’s important to remember that sandals shouldn’t be worn for every camp activity. If your child is playing sports or hiking, a supportive sneaker will be a better choice than a sandal. Simply put, your child will need at least three shoe styles for camp: a flip-flop for the shower, a supportive sandal, and sneakers that support athletic activities and long walks.
Need more help protecting your child’s foot health, before or after camp? We’re always here to offer support. Just reach out to our Long Island podiatrists by calling 516-804-9038. You can also follow this link to request an appointment online.