School shoes are often the bane of parents lives. I know that I have had my ups and downs with them over the years. I want to share with you what to look for in a pair of boys school shoes.
Both my boys can tie shoe laces and have been able to since they were about 6, but for their school shoes they both prefer velcro (Maxi informs me he will have laces when he goes to senior school next year)!
What to look for in a pair of school shoes
- Avoid slip on shoes – buckles, velcro and laces act as seatbelts keeping the shoes on. This is really important for active kids. Also go for a fastening that they can do up themselves, this encourages independence. Can you imagine a teacher having to tie 25 pairs of shoelaces after PE!
- Measure both feet, most kids and adults have one foot larger than the other. We have foot measuring tools at home as they are great for imaginative play.
- There should be a child’s thumb width between the end of the shoe and the end of the longest toe.
- The sole should be flexible, but only at the ball of the foot . It should not be rigid, but also not rolable. A supportive sole must be robust enough for walking, running and skipping.
- The widest part of the foot should correspond with the widest part of the shoe.
- The heel should be snug but comfortable and the back part of the shoe strong and stable and the heel should not slip when walking.
- Try shoes on at the end of the day and in the socks your kids will be wearing for school. Feet swell during the day.
- Make sure the shoes are breathable. Mini has really sweaty feet so we have gone for Geox from Cloggs for their breathability. Oh a apparently children are prone to sweaty feet (but they should not be overly smelly)!
- Look for durability. The Kickers shoes that Maxi has from Cloggs this year have a rubber bumper at the toe area. Making them perfect for scooting to school and playing football.
- Listen to your child. If they say they are uncomfortable or they stumble in them, then they might not be the best style of shoe for them. I remember being forced into a certain pair of school shoes and deliberately scuffing them until they were unwearable (sorry Mum)!
Each year I do a back to school linky, which is a great resource for planning and easing back into school.
![Mum in the mad house Mum in the mad house](https://b622708.smushcdn.com/622708/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/back-to-school-with-muminthemadhouse.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
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