What’s usually the first thing on your kid’s back-to-school shopping list? Shoes.
Whether it’s a mandatory dress shoe or an optional gotta-have-this-now shoe, you want to make sure your kid’s shoes fit well. Myth buster: The right shoe doesn’t have a “break-in” period; they should be comfortable immediately.
The American Podiatric Medical Association offers a few suggestions to ensure you’re buying a good shoe that will fit your child well:
*Buy for fit, not size. Let your child’s feet be measured. Don’t assume that because your child has grown but of one size that he or she needs the next size in the new pair of shoes, Sizing may vary from brand to brand or even within a brand. It’s common to have one foot larger than the other, so you’ll need to buy for the larger foot.
*Have your child try on both shoes. And with socks or tights, however the shoes are going to be worn. It’s best to go shoe-shopping with your kid later in the day, when the feet are already more swollen.
*Check for the right amount of flexibility & firmness. Shoes should bend with a child’s toes, but be firm in the middle, and stiff in the heel cup, for proper support. Grab the shoes from both ends and try to bend them. If shoe bends in the middle or if you can twist it around, there’s not enough support.
*Don’t go too big. Loose shoes may slide up and down, causing blisters. If you can put your finger down the back of the heel, the shoe is too big.
Follow these guidelines and you’ll have less tears and more money in your pocket!
By Shari Rudavsky, The Indianapolis Star
By Shari Rudavsky, The Indianapolis Star
