School shopping often means new shoes, but children’s footwear expert Lisa Will says some common buying habits may not be helping growing feet.
Will is the founder and CEO of Canadian children’s footwear company Stonz. After more than 20 years in the industry, she says parents should focus less on getting extra life from shoes and more on proper fit, flexibility and movement.
One common myth or habit is buying shoes a full size or two bigger, hoping a child will grow into them.
Will says too much extra room can affect how a child walks, runs and balances. Parents also shouldn’t count on children to announce when shoes have become too tight. “They actually just won’t wear them, I find,” Will said, adding parents should regularly check how much room remains around growing toes.
Another myth is that more cushioning automatically means a healthier shoe. Will says young children benefit from being able to feel the ground as they develop balance, coordination and foot strength.
Flexibility matters too. Will says children’s shoes should bend naturally, where the foot itself flexes, rather than remain stiff.
Finally, when it comes to hand-me-downs, Will says they can be fine as long as they haven’t been heavily worn or shaped by another child’s walking pattern. Parents should clean used shoes thoroughly to avoid hygiene concerns and check the soles, cushioning and overall condition before passing them along.
Written by Jeremy Hall
