When do children develop arches in their feet?

Question

My two and a half year old tends to stomp when she walks and does not have an arch to her foot. When do children get this arch?

Answer 1

We are born with them -- to see if your child has arches, try a simple "experiment."  Get the child's foot wet and have them step on a piece of paper or the concrete -- anywhere where you can see a footprint clearly.  If you see the entire foot, then there is no arch and they have "flat feet."  However, if you see only the toes and heel and a blank space between, there is an arch.

Answer 2

Children usually develop arches by the third year of life.  Having her walk barefoot on grass or sand is a good way of strenghtening her feet to develop her arches.

Answer 3

They normally develop the arch once they start to walk. Athough I think its 1 in 7 that never actually develop one at all.