As the kids are back in classes, right about now is when you may have noticed they’ve outgrown all their school shoes. You want to get them new pairs that are comfortable, practical, and stylish. Sound like an impossible task? Don’t worry, we have you covered with our Marietta podiatrist’s top tips for back-to-school shopping.
How to Pick Out the Best School Shoes ![kids feet in Nike sneakers]()
Before you go back shopping for children’s school shoes, here are some basic rules to keep in mind. They will help you get the best possible fit, safely support all the activities they cycle through in one school day, from recess to gym class and even just standing on lunch lines.
1. Don’t let your child wear hand-me-down school shoes, even if they seem to fit them properly. Wearing used shoes is a big problem in pediatric foot care. Why is that the case? New shoes are designed to mold to the shape of their owner’s feet. But used shoes have already formed to fit someone else’s unique foot structure. As such, they will never give your child’s feet full support, and that could lead to foot and ankle pain, or even increase their risk for injuries.
2. Pre-shop your shoes before the touch your child’s feet. Once your student falls in love with the way a shoe looks, it can be tough to talk them out of making a purchase, even if the style doesn’t give them a proper fit. To help avoid problems, test out shoes before suggesting a fit check, looking for the following features:
- The heel should be stiff (You can test this feature by pressing on both sides of the shoe heel to be certain it won’t collapse under the pressure)
- School shoes should have flexible toes (The toe is where your child pushes off for walking and running, so it should be able to bend when tested);
- The middle portion of the shoe should be rigid, able to resist efforts to twist that section
3. Measure both of your child’s feet, every time you plan to purchase new shoes. Why measure both feet? Often, one foot will be larger than the other. And it’s very important to fit school shoes to the larger one, to avoid pinching, rubbing and blisters at the end of a long day of classes.
4. Shop at the end of the day when looking for shoes. While that tends to be a tougher time of day for younger children, this rule is very important if you want to find shoes that fit your child’s feet properly. You see, feet tend to swell as the day goes on. This is a normal response to the pressure of daily activity, but it also means your feet end the day at a slightly larger size than they are in the morning. For that reason, shopping in the late afternoon will help ensure that your child’s shoes will accommodate this moderate daily swelling without causing their feet any discomfort.
5. Think carefully about sock choices. These days, there are so many different sock styles to consider: from thick cotton sweat socks to thinner, moisture-wicking styles. (These are great for preventing athlete’s foot and other fungal infections!) To ensure proper fit for school shoes, make sure that your child wears a pair of socks with the degree of thickness that they typically wear to school.
6. Never say the words “they just need breaking-in.” Shoes that fit your child properly should feel comfortable right away. Have your child walk, run, and jump around the store in a prospective pair, making sure nothing hurts. If they complain of any discomfort, steer them towards a different pair.
When to See a Pediatric Podiatrist
If you are struggling to find school shoes that don’t hurt your child’s feet, you may need additional support to find the right pair. Children with flat feet or high arches may need to add custom orthotics to their footwear in order to avoid discomfort and reduce the risk for chronic problems. If your child is always complaining that their feet hurt, reach out to Dr. Alvin Cowans by calling 770-727-0614 or by following this link to make an appointment. When you come into the office, we can assess your child’s overall foot health and come up with a plan to improve their shoe fit and help them get through their school day without discomfort.
