Make Back-to-School Shoe Shopping Enjoyable with These 3 Tips
When back-to-school time approaches, children get excited to play new games, go shopping for new shoes and clothes, and make new friends. For parents, it can also be an emotional time. It’s common for awkward disagreements between you and your child while shoe shopping. This often occurs because the child wants the cool shoes that everyone else has, and the parents may have something entirely different in mind. So, in today’s post, Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Brandon Holloway of Amarillo Foot Specialists located in the Amarillo, TX, panhandle share their top tips to make the shoe shopping trip more enjoyable.
What’s important to keep in mind is that your child’s shoes should provide good support and fit them well. You may be surprised to find many fashionable shoes that meet that criterion.
Here’s how to get through the shoe-shopping process so you and your child are happy:
Decide on a budget ahead of time
Discussing the budget before visiting the store will prevent disappointments while teaching your child a valuable lesson in handling money. Explain to them that the plan is to buy the best, affordable shoes with a stiff heel counter, a cushioned insole, flexibility at the ball of the foot, and made with good quality materials.
Be ready to buy more than one pair if your child takes gym classes or participates in a sport
This type of shoe should be specific to your child’s activity, while cross-trainers are suitable for the gym.
Visit a store with knowledgeable salespeople who can accurately measure your child’s feet and help you get a good fit
Measuring is critical because children’s feet between the ages of 6 and 12 can grow as much as 1-½ sizes each year. That growth can occur at any time, so they need to have their feet regularly and certainly, each time you buy them new shoes. One foot is typically bigger than the other, so you want to buy the size that accommodates the larger foot.
Children’s feet shouldn’t be hurting! The pain may be the result of shoes that don’t fit properly. Or there may be something else going on, so it’s best to identify problems early before they get worse.
If your child’s feet are hurting, contact the office of Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Brandon Holloway of Amarillo Foot Specialists located in Amarillo, TX, at (806) 322-3338 today to schedule a consultation.