By NICKY CHAMP
From the time your child took their first wobbly steps to the time they hit their teens, the bones in their feet have shifted to reach about 90 percent of their adult length. That’s why it’s important for kids to have the right support in both their sports shoes and school shoes – whether they’re walking to school or chasing down a soccer ball. Read on for our top tips for buying your kids’ sneakers that fit.
Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by The Athlete’s Foot. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.
Going to the shops is such a pain, why can’t I just buy them online?
Shoe sizing is different around the world, some countries have wider makes than others and parents shouldn’t rely on the size printed inside the shoe. As one foot can be larger than the other, it’s important to get both feet professionally measured by a footwear specialist
A recent UK study found that nearly four million children were wearing the wrong-size shoes because of cost, inconvenience and fad footwear.
Time-poor parents were opting for cheap shoes that weren’t professionally fitted but experts warn those cheap shoes will cost you in the long run.
Kids who wear incorrectly fitted sports shoes can develop problems later in life and can excaerbate existing or inherit foot problems, says the Australian Podiatry Association.
What’s the worse thing than can happen?
In the short term blisters, corns, pressure sores, fungal infections and ingrown toe nails and in the long run they can prevent natural growth and cause deformities like hammer toe, knee and posture-related problems and the worsening hereditary foot problems.
And in very young children incorrect footwear can impede walking development, which is why you need to buy sneakers that fit!
I had my child fitted for school shoes, do I really need to do the same for their sports shoes?
If you have school aged children you’ve probably taken them for that all important school shoe fitting at the start of the term but it’s just as important to get professionally fitted so they wear sneakers that fit.
A child’s feet and joints are under pressure during active play and sport, they need to be adequately supported.
It is as important to ensure that their sports shoes are the correct fit for the sport they play, the shape of their foot, their arc type etc.
Stores like The Athlete’s Foot offer one on one expert service to help properly fit your child for their sports shoes, and from brands like Asics, which offer the same comfort and support in their kids range as their Adults range.
What to look out for? Think about how active they are and what type of activities they will be doing in the shoes being purchased.