It’s that time of year again. Everyone is gearing up for the return to school.
There’s always the checklist of things to have sorted before you send your kids back.
- New uniform
- New books
- New lunchboxes and so on
Something else that gets replaced yearly is SHOES!
With the year 2020 being like no other, kids were confined to home schooling, being less active than ever and probably wearing no shoes or slippers around the house.
We often find that in times of inactivity once we try to become more active then we can run into niggles and aches and pains. This is even more relevant as many kids have not been able to play sport or even just run around the school yard.
Thus, it’s more important than ever to make the right start to the year by having the right shoes for when you send your kids back to school or even their chosen sports/activities.
Most commonly kids suffer from Sever’s, which affects kids roughly around the ages of 8-12. So if your child has mentioned any heel pain in the last few months, has had trouble in the past or you’re just concerned about their feet becoming sore once they’re back at school, this article will give you some tips and things to look for in a good shoe to prevent aches and pains from occurring.
Generally the features we like to see in a good supportive shoe are:
Well cushioned in the heel.
The midsole is firm and not easy to bend.
The heel of the shoe shouldn’t collapse easily when pressed with your hand.
Take your kids shoes, look at the tread. Is it worn? If it’s showing signs of wear, time for some new shoes.
Try to bend the middle of the shoe. If the shoes are flexible or take little effort, that’s a sign the midsole is worn out.
Let’s not forget that kids’ feet grow. When purchasing new shoes, make sure there is a thumb and a halves width to allow for some growth. If your child wears their shoes out quickly, a cross trainer will be more durable and applicable for more activities.
If you have any further questions or are unsure what shoe might be best for your child. Don’t be afraid to seek help from your podiatrist. They will be able to point you in the right direction and perhaps even give you some advice on what to look for to ensure your child’s development is running along smoothly.
