Before you know it, the kids will be heading back to the classroom, so now is the time to start looking for stylish and supportive school shoes. But how can you tell if the shoes they wore this summer still have some life left in them? And what should you look for in children’s shoes if you do need to invest in new pairs? Here’s what you need to know.
Signs it’s Time to Replace Your Children’s Shoes ![kids with backpacks heading back to school]()
Sometimes, you can tell kids need new shoes just by looking at the old pair. If you see any holes in the shoe body, obviously it’s time to go shopping. But you should also look at the shoe bottom for less obvious signs of wear.
If the shoe’s midsole is creased, that means internal padding is wearing away, leaving your child’s foot vulnerable to all the shock of walking and running. Are the treads on the soles have worn away, or do they appear shallow—especially in the areas beneath their toes? That’s also a problem. After all, shallow treads mean less traction as your child walks. In turn, he or she may need to grip their feet inside the shoes in order to maintain balance. Plus, the kids will enjoy less stability in their shoes, leaving them more vulnerable to slips, falls and injuries such as ankle sprains.
And don’t forget to look at the fit in your child’s old school shoes. A well-fitted child’s shoe should leave about a thumb’s width of space between the end of the big toe and the shoe itself. If your child has less space than that? It’s time to look for new footgear, or else you’ll increase the risk for ingrown toenails in kids. But, when you do look for new shoes, how can you guarantee that they’ll fit properly? Just follow these simple rules for school shoe shopping from Medford podiatrists Dr. Evan Merrill and Dr. Devin Dimond.
6 Rules for Finding the Best School Shoes for Children
When it comes to buying new school shoes, your children will obviously have opinions about their look and feel. But, while kids can lead the charge in questions of style, parents need to consider these six rules to be non-negotiable during the shopping process.
1. Never use pre-worn school shoes.
Kids feet grow quickly, so you may well have a barely-worn pair of school shoes lying around your house from an older child. However, kids should never wear hand-me-downs on their feet. The reason? Kids’ shoes are designed to mold to their unique foot shape. So, if you put them in a pair worn by another child—even briefly—they won’t get the support necessary for their own feet. And that could lead to foot pain and other concerns.
2. Seek support.
Appropriate shoes for children should have a solid heel that can resist the pressure of your fingers when squeezed from the sides. But they should bend at the toe. (You can test that flexibility by pushing up against the shoe from beneath the sole.) Still, if you try to twist the shoe in the midsection, you want a pair that won’t move too much—that’s a sign of stability. Find of pair of school shoes with all those features? You’re on the right track. Now, it’s time to put them on your child’s foot to test for fit and comfort. Which brings us to our next tip…
3. Kids need to be with you on shoe shopping trips.
It’s important to bring your children with you—to a real-life store—when shopping for school shoes. Why is that so important? Because, when you shop for shoes in person, both your child’s feet can be measured to ensure proper fitting. (If one foot is larger than the other, a common occurrence, fit the shoes to the larger foot.) Otherwise, you may pick out the wrong shoe size for your child, paving the way for problems like foot pain, blisters and ingrown toenails.
4. But shop later in the day.
Depending on the age of your child, a late-day shopping trip might be challenging. However, it’s a great way to ensure proper shoe fit. You see, like all people, kids’ feet swell slightly throughout the day. So, if you shop in the late afternoon, their feet will be at their largest. And the shoes you pick at that time of day will fit all day, every day, without pinching or rubbing.
5. Comfort should be immediate.
Any school shoes you select should feel great on your kids’ feet from the very first time they’re worn. If your child isn’t immediately sure that the shoe feels right, move on to another pair.
6. Consider separate pairs for sporting activities.
Student athletes may need one pair of school shoes, and one or more pairs of sport-specific sneakers designed to uniquely support their favorite activities. Otherwise, you may be increasing the risk of sports injuries down the road. Finally, we need you to remember. Regardless of the school shoes you select, your child should never push through foot pain—it’s not a part of the growing-up process. So, if your student is complaining about aches and pains in their toes, feet or ankles, or even if he or she is avoiding walking, running or playing, it’s time to come into our Southern Oregon podiatry practice. Simply give us a call at 541-776-3338 or click here to request an appointment.