This is a sponsored guest post.
Wearing the right footwear is crucial to your child’s growth and development. Poor-fitting shoes are not only uncomfortable, but they can also contribute to negative short-term issues such as blisters, rubbing and bruising, and long-term issues impacting on muscle and bone development. As a parent, it is important to take into consideration the sizing, function and support shoes can provide when shopping to ensure you purchase the correct shoes for your child’s needs.
Size
Shoe size plays a big part in the comfort, safety and health of your child’s feet. If a shoe doesn’t fit correctly, whether it be too tight, too loose or not supportive enough, a variety of health issues can occur. It is important not to assume your child’s shoe size as they will often vary between brands and manufacturers. As a general rule, shoes should fit without constricting the width of the child’s foot or toes and should be around a thumbs width longer than your child’s longest toe as feet tend to slide forward with movement. The shoe should mimic the natural shape of your child’s foot without them needing to move unnaturally to ensure the shoe stays on.
Function
It is easy to get carried away with the variety of styles and colours of shoes available, but it is important to remember that what really counts is the protection and support of your child’s feet, ensuring that they won’t be uncomfortable when playing. Generally, shoes are designed to perform a specific function, from wearing enclosed shoes to sporting events to prevent the possibility of injuries to open shoes, such as the sandals offered by Birkenstock, which are perfect for spending the day at the beach or by the pool with added comfort, support and stability for your child.
Support
A shoe that is supportive should cover your child’s toes, wrap around the back of their ankles, and have flexible soles and laces or other fasteners that can be used to reduce the movement of the foot inside the shoe. As most children are extra active and spend much of their time in their running shoes, it is important to invest in ones that offer the correct support. Here, Asics are a favourite as they are sturdy and supportive making them perfect for your child’s sporting or daily needs. In comparison, flat, slip-on or adult style shoes may be attractive and look great to you, but they may not necessarily provide the right support for your child, so remember when purchasing to base your decision on your child’s needs.
