When it comes to general problems with your child’s feet, we see many issues day to day. Flat feet, rolled-in feet, in-toeing (pigeon toed), walking on tip-toes, toe clawing, clumsiness or poor balance and low muscle tone are a few. That’s why a correctly fitted school shoe is important so it doesn’t exaggerate these issues and cause further damage.
So, when finding the right fit for your child consider the following:
Take school socks with you
The thickness of the sock will affect the fitting of the shoe so bring a pair of school socks with you when shopping for shoes to avoid an ill-fitted shoe.
Morning or Afternoon
Shop for shoes later in the day as feet can swell.
To break in or not
Shoes should feel comfortable immediately. There is no need to “break them in”
What size suits your child
There should be the child’s thumb width between the child’s longest toe and the end of the shoe while they are standing. Keep in mind that the longest toe isn’t always the big toe.
The heel shouldn’t slip
Have your child try both shoes and walk around in them. The shoe should fit so that the heel does not slip up and down. Too large a shoe can lead to slips, trips and falls.
What style of shoe fastener is needed
Shoes can be lace up, Velcro or buckle.
Who should fit the shoes
Get fitted by someone that is knowledgeable and trained.
After school
Remember when your child gets home, take their shoes off. They should have as much time as possible without their school shoes on to help strengthen their foot muscles.
Moreland Podiatry: Specialist Children’s Podiatrists
At Moreland Podiatry our Podiatrists are trained in all aspects of Children’s Podiatry. If you have any concerns about your child’s growing feet, please contact our office to speak with one of our friendly staff or book an appointment online.
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