Small Memories

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.

To jump or not to jump

After raking the leaves into a pile do you still have the urge to jump in? To jump or not to jump, that is the question! Relive the memory. Great for adults or kids, back-to-school, and any autumn event.

School days, school days, dear old golden rule days . . . No, I’m not going to sing, so you don’t have to worry. But, soon it will be time for your son to head back to school for another year. Prior to his first day, however, you’ll need to think about what he’s going to wear, since clothes are a requirement. The following tips might make buying school clothes for your son a little bit easier.

When planning a trip to purchase back-to-school clothes, consider the following:

• Find out if your school has a particular dress code that your child will have to follow. Use that code when deciding what to purchase.
• Determine if any of your son’s clothes can be used again this year. If your son is like most growing boys, you’ll likely have to replace all of his pants because they’ll be too short. If you’re lucky, your son may be able to wear some of the shirts he wore last year.
• After you’ve decided what you need, make a list to take with you and estimate the cost for those items. By having a list, you’ll be able to get the items you need, and avoid those things that you don’t need.
• Create a clothing budget for the school year. Determine how much money you are willing to spend at this time and how much you’ll hold until later in the year.
• As you shop for what your son needs, look for sales to help you stick to your budget.

Following these tips may help you get the items you need. They may also help you to avoid going into debt to clothe your child.

• Determine which clothes you need to buy for your son. If your son is in pre-kindergarten or one of the lower grades, he may be able to wear shorts to school. If he is, you should be able to find some decent end-of-season sales. You will also need to purchase jeans or dress slacks, and t-shirts and shirts to go with the jeans. Don’t forget to get new underclothing, socks, and shoes.
• While choosing your son’s clothes, consider the wants of the child. Since boys usually won’t care about name brands quite as much, you may be able to get away from the store without spending quite as much as you would for a daughter. That can be really good for the check book. However, if he is worried about looking like everyone else, perhaps you can be lenient with some items.
• Unfortunately, the older the kid, the more difficult it is to buy for them since they may be more prone to peer pressure. Determine what is important to you and choose your battles carefully in regard to clothes. As long as they’re covered, following the required dress code, and you’re not TOO embarrassed to be seen in public with them, these tips should help you to find just what you need.

Do you cringe when you think about fighting the back-to-school crowds? Try letting your child pick out back-to-school items like the one below, which is available from Memory Lane Products & Gifts. Just click on the shirt to see more options and designs!

To jump or not to jump

After raking the leaves into a pile do you still have the urge to jump in? To jump or not to jump, that is the question! Relive the memory. Great for adults or kids, back-to-school, and any autumn event.