Summer time shoes!

A SHOE GUIDE FOR PARENTS

Are you struggling to find shoes for your child this summer? Finding the right shoes can be important if your child is a new walker or trips and falls frequently. Shoes can provide support and help keep the foot in good alignment during walking. Let us help guide you on your shoe buying experience this summer! Check out these tips when looking to buy shoes.

When looking for a shoe for your child you want to look for a couple of important things. You want a shoe with a wide toe box. In other words, you want the section of the foot that surrounds the toes to be wide so that your child’s toes are not squished. You also want to look for a flexible shoe. To check the flexibility of a shoe you can try to fold it in half and see how easy it folds. A more flexible shoe will bend easier than a stiff shoe. In addition to being flexible, you want to look for shoes that have straps that are easily adjusted and can create a snug fit on the foot. Shoes that are too loose can increase instances of tripping. Having a reinforced heel with a loop on the back is also helpful to look for when choosing shoes. The loop makes it easier to get the shoe on and can help increase your child’s independence with putting their own shoes on. Here are some great sneaker brands to check out: See Kai Run (Target), Stride Rite (Target), and Tsukihoshi (Amazon).

Summer is the time for all water activities! When looking to buy sandals or water shoes for your child you want to look for closed toe sandals to help improve safety during walking. Some great sandal brands include: Stride Rite (Amazon), Cat n Jack (Target), Dream Pairs (Walmart), and See Kai Run (Target). If you are looking for water shoes check out: Speedo (Target) or Saguario (Walmart).

The ideal shoe is one that your child loves and will wear!