Back to School Tips to Keep Kids’ Feet Healthy & Happy

The first question you may have is whether or not your child’s current shoes are still in good enough shape.

If you’re lucky, your child will tell you directly that their shoes are feeling tight, or that their feet are starting to hurt when they wear them. But since you can’t always rely on your child to keep you up to date, you may have to do some investigating yourself.

Here is a quick assessment:

• Check the toe box space. There should be around half of an inch between the front of the shoe and your child’s longest toe.

• Check the treads on the sole of the shoes. If they’re worn down and balding, it’s time to replace them.

• Check the tops and sides. If you notice that the shoes seem to be bulging or showing any worn or stressed seams, or bent upward at the toe box, they are definitely too small for your child.

The first question you may have is whether or not your child’s current shoes are still in good enough shape.

If you’re lucky, your child will tell you directly that their shoes are feeling tight, or that their feet are starting to hurt when they wear them. But since you can’t always rely on your child to keep you up to date, you may have to do some investigating yourself.

Here is a quick assessment:

• Check the toe box space. There should be around half of an inch between the front of the shoe and your child’s longest toe.

• Check the treads on the sole of the shoes. If they’re worn down and balding, it’s time to replace them.

• Check the tops and sides. If you notice that the shoes seem to be bulging or showing any worn or stressed seams, or bent upward at the toe box, they are definitely too small for your child.

So now you know that your child needs a new pair of shoes. In a minute, we’ll give you some of our best advice for how you can ensure that your shopping trip with them goes smoothly.

These are some of the most common mistakes you should avoid:

• Don’t choose used shoes. Hand-me-downs are almost always a bad idea for school-age kids. One, they can harbor bacteria and fungi. Two, they will have already “conformed” to a different set of feet, and can cause pressure and irritation when worn by someone else. Finally, the midsoles may be badly compressed, greatly reducing the amount of shock absorption and support offered by the shoe.

• Don’t pick shoes your child will “grow into.” Shoes that are too big can be just as bad for growing feet as shoes that are too small.

• Don’t choose backless or slip-on shoes for everyday wear. It’s important that kids have shoes with some kind of adjustable closure, such as laces or Velcro. Since feet grow so fast in childhood, this allows your little one to adjust the fit more comfortably over time.

• Don’t ignore sport specific shoes. If your child is just playing on the playground or in regular gym class, an ordinary pair of gym shoes will be fine. But if they are joining the basketball or track team, for example, they should have a pair of sport-specific shoes. They will provide better support and safety to deal with the rigors presented by that particular sport.

How to Go Shoe Shopping with Your Child