This is a question I am asked a lot in clinic so I thought I would write a little post on the topic.
Firstly, though I would like to reassure parents that it is normal for children to resist the kinds of shoes we want them to wear. And allowing them to express their free will and style choices is important (but sometimes frustrating for us parents!). Make your life easy, choose your battles and don’t worry too much if they end up wearing the same pair of shoes over and over again. Limit the number of shoes they have to 2 pairs or 3 pairs and give them the choice of 2 if they are in a situation where they’re not restricted by footwear type (i.e on a weekend).
Secondly, there is no single brand of shoe which is ideal for everyone. You absolutely have to go by how the shoe fits the foot; what works for one does not necessarily work for another. But here are a few general guidelines you can follow when purchasing shoes for children.
Always have their feet measured, in both length and width. Clarks is the obvious market leader; you can purchase a foot measurement tool from them too if you want to carry this out yourself. Small independent children’s shoe shops will also offer a shoe measuring service because it is so important.
Shoes must always be fit for purpose. School shoes are school shoes. Trainers for PE and activity. A third pair of shoes can be something like sneakers in the winter, sandals in the summer. I am not a fan of wellington boots, but they are useful to have in the wet muddy months and are a cheaper alternative to waterproof shoes.
Go for a shoe with a lace, buckle or strap to offer the midfoot support. Avoid shoes which slip on, like ballerina pumps as the foot has to work really hard to keep the shoe on the foot.
Pick a shoe with a grippy sole for running, jumping and all the other activities!
Look for breathable materials where possible; avoid anything plastic or synthetic which will make the feet sweat.