School shoes for children should be both comfortable and durable. They may be worn daily for several years, but they mustn’t become uncomfortable over time or tighten too tightly.
Consider your child’s shoe preferences – are they partial to lace-ups or slip on shoes? Also, be mindful of their school uniform policy, as many schools require specific student footwear standards.
Comfort
As any parent knows, children’s feet come in all shapes and sizes – this requires school shoes that provide comfort, protection, style and value – which often results in frustrating attempts by parents to find pairs that satisfy all three criteria!
School shoes will be worn for hours daily and must provide ample support and cushioning to minimise foot pain or injury. As they will also need to be easy for kids to put on and take off quickly and comfortably, it may be wise to consider which styles have hook & loop fastenings or elasticated top straps to reduce struggle in the mornings when trying on socks!
As part of your school shoe selection, another key consideration should be its instep height. Some brands of school shoes can feature narrow heel-and-instep areas, which could cause discomfort for children with wide feet; ensure they purchase shoes with adequate room in these areas to avoid discomfort and potential injuries.
Style
Your wide-fit school shoes will be integral to your success at school. While you may value long-lasting and sturdy options, they likely prefer fashionable and popular options to reflect their taste and sense of fashion.
Boys typically opt for casual, trainer-style shoes which make an impression, rather than dress shoes. Boys also often go through shoes quickly due to using them for activities like playing sports at lunchtime and skateboarding or scootering on their way to and from school. Therefore children should own two sets of quality school shoes and another pair they can wear on special occasions, like sports shoes.
Some stunning styles combine durability & practicality with fashion & fit, such as New Zealand-based brand Bobux’s leather lace-up school shoes, which provide wide fitting options, herringbone sole pattern for grip, and zero drop design to promote healthy foot development.
Fit
Fit is paramount when selecting wide-fit school shoes; children wear them all day and must feel secure and well-supported. We suggest using our Start-Rite foot measuring gauge or Click n Fit tool for accurate fittings.
As many brands offer narrow or wide-fitting school shoes, it is worth shopping for a pair that best suits your child’s feet. Hampton Classics makes an outstanding range of narrow and wide-fitting school shoes in both lace-up and hook & loop fastening for both narrow and wide-fitting feet, all constructed from European leather with shock-absorbent cushioned midsoles – something Hampton Classics does with distinction!
Lelli Kelly’s school shoe range is fantastic, especially their G-fit school shoes designed for wider feet. This fashionable yet comfortable footwear feature interchangeable straps, so you can opt for rainbow/cloud embellishment or keep things plain!
Ecco school shoes are another fantastic brand we appreciate here at GNS Shoes Australia, hailing from Denmark with a reputation for comfort and durability. While harder to come by in Australia than their Danish counterparts, the Cohen model should provide an ideal fit – particularly thick winter socks! Their soles are reinforced for additional support – even better, there’s a 6-month outsole guarantee!
Value
This study assessed whether currently, available school shoes met the foot dimensions of habitually barefoot South African children and adolescents. HTL (heel-toe-length) and FW (foot width) measurements from each child were collected and compared against SW and SL measurements for new shoes available in their size range.
Results demonstrated that retail shoe widths do not accommodate the feet dimensions of habitually barefoot children and adolescents. It is an important discovery as studies demonstrate how poorly fitting footwear can negatively affect pediatric feet.
Planning can help prevent overspending on school shoes by giving yourself enough time. Instead of waiting until August when everyone else is purchasing shoes, try having your child’s feet measured earlier so that you can find styles and sizes that suit both their feet and budgets.