“Should I be worried about my child’s flat feet?” — assessing kids flat feet Gold Coast families ask about is one of the most common reasons parents bring children to Ace Health Centre. The honest answer: usually no, sometimes yes, and there are clear signs that tell you which. Here’s how a paediatric podiatrist thinks about it.
Why Most Kids Have Flat Feet
Children are born with a fat pad in the arch and very mobile joints. The arch develops gradually, usually establishing itself between ages 6 and 10. Before that age, looking flat-footed when standing is the rule, not the exception. Watching the foot from behind while the child stands on tiptoes — and seeing an arch appear — is reassuring evidence the foot is structurally fine. For a general medical overview, the Raising Children Network explains how children’s arches develop.
When Kids Flat Feet Are Worth Looking At
Book in if any of the following are true:
- Pain — in the foot, ankle or shin, especially after activity
- Stops running or playing earlier than peers, or asks to be carried
- Notably uneven shoe wear (one shoe collapses inward more than the other)
- Walks on the inside of the foot, with the heel rolling inward (rigid pronation)
- The foot stays flat even on tiptoes — the arch doesn’t appear
- Family history of significant foot problems
What a Paediatric Podiatry Assessment Looks Like
The first appointment is calm, child-friendly and usually about 30 minutes. We watch your child:
- Stand and walk barefoot
- Run, jump and balance on one leg
- Move up onto tiptoes — to see if the arch reappears
We check joint range, muscle strength and footwear. We almost never need imaging at first visit.
What Treatment Looks Like — If Any
Most kids need reassurance and a small amount of strengthening. For the minority that need active treatment, we typically progress through:
- Footwear advice — supportive, structured shoes for school and sport (no flimsy soft-sole school shoes)
- Strength program — toe yoga, single-leg balance, calf and intrinsic foot work, played as games
- Orthotics where indicated — for symptomatic, rigid or asymmetrical feet, prescription custom orthotics can be a game-changer. We use lighter, narrower paediatric devices designed for growing feet.
Conditions We Always Want to Rule Out
A small number of children’s “flat feet” are actually a different condition wearing the same costume — for example a tarsal coalition (joined bones in the foot) or accessory navicular bone. Both have specific treatment paths and are easy to identify on a single in-clinic exam.
What Parents Often Ask
Should my child wear arch-support shoes all the time? No. Children’s feet benefit from being barefoot at home — it’s how the small muscles get strong. We just ask for supportive school and sport shoes when load is high.
Will orthotics make my child dependent on them? No — and there is no good evidence orthotics prevent normal foot development. We use them as a tool when there’s a reason, then wean as the child grows.
What if grandparents disagree? Bring them to the appointment if you’d like — we’re happy to walk everyone through the assessment in plain language.
Book a Kids’ Foot Assessment
If something doesn’t sit right, get it checked. Call (07) 5572 6222 or book online — our podiatrists love working with children and their parents.
