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The back-to-school rush is upon us. Amongst the mad rush for new school supplies, backpacks, and the elusive indestructible water bottle, back to school shoes are an important piece of equipment for the upcoming school year. Perhaps you’re shopping for indoor and outdoor shoes, uniform coordinated shoes, first day look shoes or just plain, cute shoes! For parents, the aesthetic certainly matters, but more importantly, the support and comfort both inside and outside of the classroom is key. Your BioPed team has you covered with 5 expert tips to help you navigate the demands of your kids, and the care of their growing feet as you embark on back-to-school shoe shopping.

Tip#1: Get Measured

Before you even begin to shop for shoes with your child, it’s best to get them professionally measured so you have an accurate shoe size to look for as a starting point. Knowing that their current footwear is too big or too small isn’t always the best measure to go by. Some kids like the feeling of their toes being cramped while others are used to wearing flippers that flop around their feet because you’ve always bought a size or two up. Kids feet can grow quickly at times; however, it is so important to make sure that the size and fit of the shoe is correct for your child. This will promote healthy bone growth and reduce the occurrence of blistering, calluses, redness, and discomfort. Ideally, you want to have your child measured on a Brannock device by a professional who will determine an accurate length and width of their foot.

Tip#2: Assess Key Areas of Support

We want our kids to be supported throughout the day to prevent soreness and pain in their feet and lower limbs. As active runners, jumpers, and climbers, kids are naturally curious to move. The fact that movement helps with memory retention and focus is a plus that they can benefit from in school, and properly fit shoes can help to encourage healthy movement. Supportive footwear helps kids feel secure and well-balanced when on the move.

Key Areas of Support in a Shoe

Firm Heel Counter – the back of the heel should be firm and sturdy to control the heel position in the shoe. You should not be able to bend the heel down to the interior of the shoe or make contact by squeezing the sides of the heel together.

Supportive Arch of the Shoe – This is not about how high it is inside the shoe. This support comes from the integrity of the midsole and the cushion versus strength and thickness of that material. Cushioning will help with shock absorption during high intensity activity, such as running and jumping, and the support/strength will keep them from moving freely in the shoe as their feet tend to be excessively flexible for growth. You should not be able to “wring out” the middle of the shoe like a dish cloth, or bend/fold the shoe in half.

Tip#3: Find the Appropriate Length for Fit and Growth

As parents or caregivers, it’s hard to watch our kids grow so fast. Their feet tend to rapidly outgrow their footwear. As a precaution, we tend to buy a size up from their proper fit. Although this may be tempting, it can be detrimental to overall foot health. Instead of overestimating, get them fitted in their correct size; their toe should be near the end without pressing or rubbing against it. However, in the case that you do want some extra comfort room for yourself or your child, up to a small finger’s width between their toe and the front of the shoe is acceptable (about half an inch). Shoes that fit too long promote trips and falls, and often are worn out before they are outgrown anyways. In the long run, it’s more important to have a proper fit with some wiggle room, than outfit a foot with something too long.

Tip#4: Fit for Width, not just Length

Most children have narrow feet for most of their childhood. Once they hit adolescence, that can change overnight. If your child is constantly busting through the sides of their shoes, usually the outside area near the baby toe, this could be an indication that they need a wider fit. On the contrary, when a shoe is too narrow, they may complain that their toes are being pinched together, but when you check the length, they still have room. If shoes are too wide, they may complain about blisters frequently, trip often, and slide around in the shoe. Most retailers should be able to order in a wider width if necessary, however if you want to be sure of the fit and the width, your local BioPed has you covered with access to New Balance children’s shoe sizing in medium and wide width.

Tip#5: Check the Fit Before you Buy

The biggest issue with children’s shoe fit, even when you do all the checks for them, is the way kids put their shoes on. If the foot is not properly positioned in the shoe, the fit checks will not be correct and possibly put your child in the wrong size.

When they first put the shoe on, have them bang the back of their heel on the ground a few times to make sure their heel sits right in the heel cup and is not leaving a gap between their foot and the back of the shoe.

Have them properly tie or fasten the shoe closed to reduce foot slippage inside the shoe.

Check the longest toe for length. Sometimes this may be the second or even third toe instead of the big toe. Ask them to wiggle all their toes to make sure you find the longest one and to see if they report any rubbing of the toes as they do so, which may indicate that the shoe is too tight.

Overall, getting measured and accurately checking the fit are the best ways to ensure your child’s back-to-school footwear is comfortable as well as stylish.

Written by:

Emily Newell

BioPed Canadian Certified Pedorthist