With the start of the summer holidays just around the corner, thinking about the children going back to school is probably the last thought on many parents mind.
However, now is exactly the right time to consider what your child will be wearing on their feet come early September.
Be it traditional boys' or girls' school shoes, trainers, boots or a more casual style, then it's important to follow these golden tips to allow your child's feet to develop properly.
Properly fitting footwear is so important. I'll fitting children's shoes be they leather shoes, plastic sandals, rubber boots or canvas pumps can, and often do, cause deformities such as hammer toe, claw toe and bunions.
1, Too often, children are sent back to school in the same pair of shoes they wore in the summer term. According to one expert, children's feet can grow as much as half a shoe size every three months. Therefore, what fitted nicely at the beginning of the summer term may no longer be suitable for going back to school in the autumn.
2, Slip-on shoes are not recommended for children, as young feet will be subjected to "slippage", a cause of hammer toe and claw toe. Shoes should have laces, straps, buckles or Touch Fastenings which support the foot properly.
The classic children's rhyme "one two buckle my shoe" is an accurate statement and one that shouldn't be ignored!
3, New shoes must have room for growth, and it's recommended this should be about a finger's-width from the longest toe. If any longer this will also cause the foot to slip in the shoe.
4, The shoes should be wide enough to allow free movement of the toes from side to side and upwards. If a shoe is too narrow, shallow or both, then this will lead to the toes being crushed together.
5, At the back, the shoe should fit exactly around the heel without being too tight or loose. The heel should also be able to absorb shocks and have a broad width. High heels are not recommended for young girls.
6, The best school shoes for boys and girls support the foot at the inner border, heel and arch.
7, Many parents prefer leather school shoes, and some experts will recommend a leather shoe is the best for school shoes.
8, Once your child has gone back to school, make sure you inspect their shoes and feet regularly. Young feet can develop problems such as athletes' foot, blisters, verrucas or corns and more often than not these ailments are down to the shoes you have chosen.
If you do notice any problems, always seek medical advice. As for the shoes, well it might be time to throw them out and invest in a new pair that will do the job they are designed to do namely protect young feet and allow them to develop naturally.
Great tips-Thomas! This is actually a great time to buy-as I shopped in the store the other day with my son who continually grows out of his shoes, there were tons on clearance to make room for all the back to school shipments. They were discounted as much as 75 percent off. Thanks for sharing all the expertise! It was very useful!
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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