Buying Kids School Shoes: Style and Size Savvy
You’ve managed to make it through the summer without sinking a lot of money into your child’s shoes. It’s now time to grit your teeth and get those school shoes. Your child has likely grown a good bit over the summer so; you may want to take special care in getting the proper shoe fit and style. Here are a few tips to help you get the right size and style for your child.
Afternoon shoe shopping – Shopping for shoes later in the day will help to assure you get a proper fit. Since feet swell during the day, your child’s foot will be at its biggest in the afternoon. This consideration is especially important since your child’s foot will be growing quickly. Afternoon shopping helps to ensure that your child will be able to wear the shoes for more than a couple of months.
Measure First, Buy Once – When your child’s feet are measured properly, you don’t have to worry about taking them back to get a larger size. Measure both of your child’s feet in the afternoon or evening. By having your child stand during the measuring, the feet are allowed to expand and register the true size. Since your child’s feet grow quickly, you may need to have them measured each time you buy new shoes.
Right Foot, Left Foot, Both Feet – Most people have one foot that is slightly larger than the other foot. Try on both shoes, rather than just one, to assure the fit is comfortable and proper. You may want to consider getting shoes that are one-half to one size larger than needed. This allows for some growth. Also, have your child walk around in front of you. Their heels should not slip out of the shoe; if they do, purchase a pair of heel pads to alleviate this problem. Toes, especially the longest toe, should be about one-half inch from the ends of the shoe.
Money, Money, Money – Shoes for children can be quite expensive. If money is an issue when choosing shoes, consider going to one of the discount stores. The shoes at stores like Kmart, Wal-Mart, and Target are great for dress shoes, or other shoes that get limited wear. For shoes your child will wear daily, you may want to invest in a pair of sturdy name brand shoes.
Everyday Shoes – Shoes for daily wear should be made of leather or sturdy canvas, rather than made of vinyl. The shoes also hold up better if they are stitched instead of glued. Making sure the everyday shoes are durable will help ensure that you don’t have to buy new shoes every few months.
Look Around – Once your child has found a pair of shoes that they like, you might want to see what else is available. Does that style of shoe also come with Velcro fasteners rather than having to be tied? While you’ll want your child to learn to tie their shoes, you might want to consider Velcro, especially if your child is a preschooler.
Specialty Shoes – One type of shoe that most people overlook until needed is the specialty shoe. Does it rain or snow where you live? Consider buying rain or winter boots while you’re shoe shopping. These boots should be purchased a size or two larger to accommodate heavier or double socks during the winter months.
There’s so much to consider when shopping for shoes, particularly when it’s time to head back to school. You have to think about size, fit, style, color, and price. Keeping these tips in mind will help your child get the shoe style and color he wants with the fit and price you want.
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