Help kids put their best foot forward
Advertiser Staff
One of the annual rites of passage for families with keiki going back to school is shopping for new sneakers and dress shoes. Keeping some tips in mind can make the job go more smoothly.
The American Podiatric Medical Association has issued shoe- and sneaker-buying tips for parents, just in time for back-to-school.
Children's feet change as they age, the association notes, so it may be necessary to change shoe and sock sizes every few months to allow room for feet to grow.
Shoes that don't fit properly can aggravate the feet; that's why children's feet should be measured before shoes are chosen.
The association recommends against handing down footwear. The fit may not be right, and sharing shoes can spread fungi such as athlete's foot.
Here are five shoe-buying tips:
1. Take your child shoe shopping. It's important to have your child's feet measured before buying shoes. Every shoe fits differently. Letting a child have a say in the process promotes healthy foot habits down the road.
2. Shop for shoes later in the day. Feet tend to swell during the day; it's best to be fitted while they are larger.
3. Buy shoes that don't need "breaking in"; shoes should be comfortable immediately.
4. Always buy for the larger foot. Feet are seldom precisely the same size.
5. Have your child try on shoes or sneakers with socks, if that's how they'll be worn.
