Buying the right school shoes for children

by My Kent Family reporter

With the plethora of parenting advice bombarding us on a daily basis, it's easy to forget the little things.

Remember the days when getting properly fitted for shoes was the norm? You couldn't pick up a pair of pumps in your local supermarket and children were seen in sensible footwear.

With kids growing up faster, they're following fashion and lusting after mini-me styles. While parents are time-poor and prefer the ease of grabbing a pair of smart black shoes off the shelf of a shop, alongside the season's school uniform.

And because of this, somehow, somewhere, we've forgotten the importance of children's feet.

Don’t assume that sturdy, chunky shoes are always best
Don’t assume that sturdy, chunky shoes are always best

Not too long back, most of us would have had one pair of perfectly fitted perfectly shoes, and wear them with every single outfit we owned, from schoolwear to party clothes.

'The shoes our kids wear every day will alter how they walk and run in the future'

It's a far cry from today's kids who have umpteen pairs of sandals, trainers, boots, wellies and sparkly numbers to choose from. And most have come from a non-specialist shoe store, snapped up before even being tried on.

But fitting our children's feet like this could be setting them up for trouble in the future. The shoes our kids wear every day will alter how they walk and run in the future.

That's why getting the right school shoes is so important.

Ideally they should be light, flat, thin-soled, flexible footwear for little feet, with space for those toes to wiggle about. You should be able to bend the shoe in half. If it doesn't, it's too rigid and will limit movement.

Somehow, somewhere, we've forgotten the importance of children's feet
Somehow, somewhere, we've forgotten the importance of children's feet

The soles are all important and should be as thin and tough as possible - enough to be puncture resistant, but still allow your child to feel the variety of terrain under foot, which will develop strength and coordination."

So, if your kids have been running around in Crocs for most of the summer, it might not have done their feet much good (We've done the test, they don't bend at all). The bulky support of big brand trainers can also be bad news and, as we head towards winter, be aware that the stiff, heavy soles of chunky boots aren't a great option, either.

If you're planning to buy shoes for the smaller people in your home in the coming weeks, turn over a new leaf for autumn and snap up shoes that will give them happy feet.

A more light-weight and flexible shoe is often kinder to growing feet.
A more light-weight and flexible shoe is often kinder to growing feet.

TIPS FOR TOP TINY TOES

1. Look at your child's feet regularly. In standing, a strong, healthy, natural foot will often exhibit a separation of the big toe from the rest. The big toe will also appear bigger than the others and it will readily 'root' into the ground for stability. If you ask your child to balance on one leg, you should also observe a flattening of the foot as the toes spread to aid balance.

2. Encourage your children to engage in barefoot activities where possible (dance, gymnastics, martial arts) as well as a diverse range of movements and sports. Such pursuits will ensure their feet are exposed to a range of different demands and have the best possible start to adulthood.

3. Shoes should be really flat from heel to toe, as any heel height affects correct, natural posture.

4. When buying school shoes, have your child's feet measured in a shoe shop. The kids may moan about it, but will thanks you for it in the long run.

5. If you can't get the shoes fitted professionally, make sure there’s space between the tip of the shoe and the tip of your child’s longest toe, about the width of your thumb. Also make sure your child can wriggle their toes, but not the rest of their foot, while the heel should stay comfortably in place.

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