In recent weeks, a lot of talk has surrounded the celebrations of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The underlying reason for the celebration of these days is the joy that it brings to children in honoring their parents. Young and old, children love to give back to their parents. Young children especially seem to take pride in presenting a handmade construction paper card written in crayon or possibly a glued on macaroni family. Children give such unconditional love and the trust they possess in their parents is indisputable and unwavering.
The younger the child is, the more trust that is placed in the parent. A toddler is not capable of making decisions that will affect them, so it is trusted that the parent makes those decisions. An important decision for parents, that in my opinion, is not taken as seriously as it sometimes should be, is deciding on what type of shoes for a toddler or young child.
Children don’t normally complain about an improper fitting shoe, so it is up to the parent to know what to look for when it is time to buy new shoes and if the shoes they are buying are the right fit for their child. A child’s developing foot can be manipulated by the type of shoes they wear due to their foot molding to the particular shoe they wear. Therefore, if a bad fitting shoe is worn, the foot will mold to the shape of the shoe causing foot problems later in life. This is the reason that hand me down shoes are not a good idea for kids. The former kid’s footprint will be molded to the shoes not allowing the proper fit for the next child in line. Just like an adult, the best time to shop for shoes is late in the afternoon to compensate for the foot swelling slightly. Children’s shoes should have rounded toes with enough space that the toes can freely wiggle, a semi flexible sole, but still rigid enough to add support, and wide enough that the shoe fits comfortably without adding pressure on the sides of the feet. Ventilation is important, so the shoe should be made out of a breathable material or a style that allows airflow.
Shopping for shoes is usually not as fun for a child as going to the park, so to make it easier on yourself and the sales people. Make sure that your child is well rested, isn't hungry (bringing along a snack can be a great help, non-messy of course), and give your child the freedom to actually try the shoe, not just try on the shoe. I always let my children run in the shoes they were trying. My son was always amazed at how fast his new shoes ran. This way, you can look to see if there may be potential problems, plus it makes the child feel like they are part of the buying process. Another tip, since children don’t complain about their feet hurting unless something obvious is wrong; take a minute after removing their shoes to hold their feet in your hands. While rubbing them gently, squeeze while feeling the entire length of the foot. If something hurts, you will know.
HouserShoes.com carries many different lines of children’s shoes that are made with children in mind. Keen is a brand that makes a great children’s shoe. Keen shoes have a rounded bumper toe which is wide enough to allow for the wiggle room, has a non- slip supportive sole and plenty of ventilation. Chooze are great shoes for little girls. The left shoe never matched the right, which the company Chooze does to allow for an individual style. Chooze also promotes programs to empower women and girls. For example, Chooze uses their profits to make loans to women in order to give them a chance to overcome and succeed. HouserShoes.com also carries many other name brands that excel in kids shoes. Skechers, Keds, Stride Rite and B.O.C by Born are only a few.
You can order all of the above brands and more from HouserShoes.com. If you are unsure about the size, there are online tools you can use. These sites that offer a free downloadable paper measuring scale. Any search engine can lead you to these. You can also order measuring devices from other retailers starting at about $7 for a plastic version. Whether you are buying in one of the many store locations or online, HouserShoes.com offers the same large selection of name brands, quality and service for children as they are known for offering in adult selections.
The younger the child is, the more trust that is placed in the parent. A toddler is not capable of making decisions that will affect them, so it is trusted that the parent makes those decisions. An important decision for parents, that in my opinion, is not taken as seriously as it sometimes should be, is deciding on what type of shoes for a toddler or young child.
Children don’t normally complain about an improper fitting shoe, so it is up to the parent to know what to look for when it is time to buy new shoes and if the shoes they are buying are the right fit for their child. A child’s developing foot can be manipulated by the type of shoes they wear due to their foot molding to the particular shoe they wear. Therefore, if a bad fitting shoe is worn, the foot will mold to the shape of the shoe causing foot problems later in life. This is the reason that hand me down shoes are not a good idea for kids. The former kid’s footprint will be molded to the shoes not allowing the proper fit for the next child in line. Just like an adult, the best time to shop for shoes is late in the afternoon to compensate for the foot swelling slightly. Children’s shoes should have rounded toes with enough space that the toes can freely wiggle, a semi flexible sole, but still rigid enough to add support, and wide enough that the shoe fits comfortably without adding pressure on the sides of the feet. Ventilation is important, so the shoe should be made out of a breathable material or a style that allows airflow.
Shopping for shoes is usually not as fun for a child as going to the park, so to make it easier on yourself and the sales people. Make sure that your child is well rested, isn't hungry (bringing along a snack can be a great help, non-messy of course), and give your child the freedom to actually try the shoe, not just try on the shoe. I always let my children run in the shoes they were trying. My son was always amazed at how fast his new shoes ran. This way, you can look to see if there may be potential problems, plus it makes the child feel like they are part of the buying process. Another tip, since children don’t complain about their feet hurting unless something obvious is wrong; take a minute after removing their shoes to hold their feet in your hands. While rubbing them gently, squeeze while feeling the entire length of the foot. If something hurts, you will know.
HouserShoes.com carries many different lines of children’s shoes that are made with children in mind. Keen is a brand that makes a great children’s shoe. Keen shoes have a rounded bumper toe which is wide enough to allow for the wiggle room, has a non- slip supportive sole and plenty of ventilation. Chooze are great shoes for little girls. The left shoe never matched the right, which the company Chooze does to allow for an individual style. Chooze also promotes programs to empower women and girls. For example, Chooze uses their profits to make loans to women in order to give them a chance to overcome and succeed. HouserShoes.com also carries many other name brands that excel in kids shoes. Skechers, Keds, Stride Rite and B.O.C by Born are only a few.
You can order all of the above brands and more from HouserShoes.com. If you are unsure about the size, there are online tools you can use. These sites that offer a free downloadable paper measuring scale. Any search engine can lead you to these. You can also order measuring devices from other retailers starting at about $7 for a plastic version. Whether you are buying in one of the many store locations or online, HouserShoes.com offers the same large selection of name brands, quality and service for children as they are known for offering in adult selections.
