Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the customizable-blogily domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114
Tips From The Teacher ~ Buying School Shoes

Tips From The Teacher ~ Buying School Shoes

Posted On January 16, 2013

“Something I just love about teaching 5 year olds is tying 25 pairs of shoelaces, 3 times a day, just after they have walked through the toilets.”

 So maybe this isn’t the highlight of my day, but boy has it taught me a thing or two about school school shoes!

 

ON, OFF, ON, OFF and ON again.  Unbeknownst to many parents, children (especially those in their first years of school) DO take their shoes off at school.  

For this reason, I can not emphasise enough, BUY YOUR CHILD SHOES THEY CAN PUT ON BY THEMSELVES! You do not want  your child to miss out on playing in the sandpit because they dread the drama of putting their shoes back on.  Or to be the child who is constantly tripping over the untied shoelace (yes most probably after it too has been dragged accross the floor of the toilets.)

Unfortunately many schools are now enforcing shoelaces instead of Velcro on school shoes (don’t even get me started on schools choosing “looks” over practicality.)  Unless this is the case I strongly recommend Velcro.  Your child WILL learn to tie their shoelaces, but will learn quicker when not under the time constraints of a school timetable.  This is a skill best learnt at home. 


GET A GOOD FIT. Your child is growing, fast.  They will be wearing these shoes 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week.  They need to be a GOOD FIT.  So for me, I try to find the BEST shoes and then the BEST price.  Cheap shoes rarely last and even worse can do your childs, foot, stance and gait damage. A good pair of shoes will last as long as they fit, for us it was a whole school year.  They should not be tight across the arch or toes, or slip at the back.  
 
 
 

TO GET THE BEST FIT…….. 

* Take your child’s school socks with you when trying them on.  For us Master O’s “Formal Socks” are considerably thinner than his VERY THICK sports socks. 

* Try them on sitting down, standing up and walking around

* Where possible have an “expert” measure the child’s foot (most shoe stores will do this)

* Try to buy shoes with some flexibilty in them, hard shoes are hard on feet

* Are they leather?  Read the label very carefully sometimes shoes are deceiving, leather will always last longer and soften over time.  Vinyl, Rubber any synthetics will not change.

* Try to buy shoes with removable inserts, these offer extra support and can be switched out for other inserts at change as the child grows.

* Ask the child to tell you how they feel, although they may feel stiff at first, they shouldn’t require “breaking” in.  Please note children are not always reliable!  Master O had two different sizes on his feet and claimed the bigger one felt too tight but the smaller one was fine!

and one last word from the teacher, LABEL THEM.  Picture this, 30 children in the sand pit.  All 30 children get out of the sand pit at the same time. Now your child has to find their “black shoes” amongst the other 29 pairs of identical shoes.  Please for everyones sanity, LABEL THEM!!!  And the socks too!!!
 
So what did we choose?  
This year we were eager to try out the brand spanking new “Betts Kids” shoe store at Indooroopilly.  Mainly because both children were desperate to sit up on the very high platform and have their feet measured.  We eventually choose two pairs of Airflex shoes.  They fitted beautifully, were flexible, had removable inserts and were AFFORDABLE!  
A good $30 cheaper than last year for formal shoes.
$40 cheaper for Sports Shoes than what we spent last year!
To be honest I had assumed buying from a Kids Shoe Specialty store would be expensive.  But we were pleasantly surprised.
 
To learn more about Betts Kids Shoes check out their Facebook Page 
 
Even better……The very kind people at Betts are giving me
TWO pairs of AIRFLEX School Shoes to GIVE AWAY!!!!!
 

ENTER VIA RAFFLECOPTER BELOW and tell me …What do you look for when buying School Shoes?

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was not paid to promote Betts products. I was however gifted school shoes from Betts in order to experience the Betts Fitting Service and to sample the range and quality of Airflex Shoes.