There are as many different kinds of school shoes as there are kinds of children and this can make finding the perfect pair a little tricky. Below we have collected a few pointers and features to help you identify which school shoes are top of the class.
Fit
The fit of school shoes is very important, chances are your child’s school shoes will be the pair they wear the most on a weekly bases. This makes getting the correct fit all the more important. There’s really nothing worse than having uncomfortable shoes, especially in an environment like school where every distraction can have a knock on effect on your child’s education.
When it comes to school shoes, there is a wide variety of different width fittings and half sizes to ensure that an optimum fit can be achieved. We always advise having your child’s school shoes fitted by a trained professional. We offer a full children’s shoe fitting service in all of our children’s departments, a list of which can be found here.
What About Growing Room?
Children’s feet are continuously growing and their bones won’t be fully formed until they’re about 18 years old! This is where growing room comes in. By the time your child reaches school age their feet will likely be growing at a rate of one full size a year (This is an average and will differ from child to child.) However, accommodating for growing room is not as easy as simply buying a size up as this can lead to blisters and falls.
It is a delicate balance between shoes having room to grow and shoes being too big. This makes having your child’s school shoes professionally fitted incredibly important and worth it as trained fitters will be able to help you achieve the correct ratio. Having your child’s feet regularly measured as they grow is essential to ensuring their school shoes remain comfortable. Even if you’re lucky enough to have a child who keeps their shoes in pristine condition it is still worth having them checked to make sure that they still fit correctly.
Materials
School shoes get put through a lot and this makes durability one test they need to pass. Leather is a highly popular choice for school shoes as it looks smart and offers durability while still allowing feet to breathe.
Soles
Flexibility and durability are the key when it comes to school shoe soles. Shoes should allow your child’s feet to bend and move naturally without hindering movement. It is also essential that school shoes offer grip making rubber a popular and sensible choice.
Fastenings
Laces look grown up and smart but riptape fastening shoes save time on busy mornings and also eliminate the possibility of smaller children tripping on untied laces. For older children, slip on shoes are a stylish alternative to laces that still achieve a grown up look.
What Are They Being Worn For?
If your child is just wearing their shoes in the classroom then you should be safe with the majority of styles. However, if your child is also going to be wearing their school shoes while they are running around and playing games at lunch time then you’ll need to keep this in mind when selecting their shoes. Shoes that have rubber toe caps and bumpers are a great option for preventing scuffs and increasing the shoes lifespan.
First School Shoes
We know that it can be tough to convince your child to swap the fun casual shoes they’ve been used to for plain black school shoes. Luckily, there are ways to make the transition a little easier. Brands like Clarks, Geox and Lelli Kelly all offer school shoes with subtle fun detailing aimed to capture the imagination of younger children. Look out for dinosaur print soles or flower trims but be sure to check your child’s school’s dress code before making a purchase.
We’ll leave you with a piece of expert advice from our Children’s Shoe Buyer, Julie, who has many years of experience when it comes to selecting top quality school shoes:
“Since school shoes are worn five days a week it is really important that not only are they comfortable and hard-wearing but they also don’t compromise on style or fashion. Our feet will carry us for the rest of our lives so it is imperative that children have their feet measured to protect developing bones and that breathable materials such as leather are worn, after all happy feet equals a happy child. We offer styles to suit all ages from all of the major brands to ensure we have something to please the most discerning customer.”
