What do you do when your child grows out of school shoes

[Dollenganger333]

With half a term left? I’m thinking I’ll just buy new ones. Cheap shoes not an option unfortunately.

When I was a kid parents used to cut away the toe area at the top of the shoes to make more space.

DS had new shoes just before half term, and the rate he's growing he won't fit in them come September. They are in school shoes for longer per week than any other shoes, they don't break up until late July it's another six weeks, you can't leave them in pain in too small shoes. If they grow out of them before the end of the summer you can sell them second hand and recoup a bit of the cost

Send them in trainers/other none school shoes. Bit of a waste buying new shoes this late in the school year and schools completely understand this

I'm surprised at the people being surprised by sandals, they're listed as part of the school uniform at our school! They do specify "sturdy" sandals, and flip flops aren't allowed. But proper walking type sandals are considered totally fine for school shoes (for primary).

We've just bought new school shoes for ds - tbh, he'll have destroyed them by July anyway, if the last year is anything to go by 🙄

no that would never be allowed at my kids school

Trainers, I refuse to buy new shoes in the last half term.

You don't have to buy new shoes for September!

Buy new. I have always just got new bits of uniform as I need them rather than replacing everything just because it’s September though.

They always shoot up in April it seems! This year things have been tighter than usual due to a sudden redundancy so resorted to vinted as a stop gap. Luckily they fit well and it's turned out fine.

Do you mean you're sending them in whatever else fits, or it's fine for them to wear tight uncomfortable shoes all month because they're just a child?

Good point! Actually, some of my older children’s feet would sometimes grow twice in one term so it’s really unpredictable.

I mean it’s only a few weeks 💁Kids are resilient!

Would you wear shoes a size too small 5 days a week for 7 weeks? I know I wouldn’t!

Buy new ones, I wonder how many parents who make their child to wear too small shoes are wearing shoes to work everyday that are at least one size too small.

I buy new ones yes. Because they last her months and months (if I buy Clarks they do). So I know she'll get the wear out of them

It seems counterintuitive that people buy shoes in September (or mid August more likely), expecting them to last and fit for most of the school year and yet a pair of shoes cannot be bought before the 6 week summer holiday lest the child's feet grow... I would understand if we had 3 month holidays like some countries but the summer break is shorter than most half terms.

But new ones of course. We had to do this for DC1 a few weeks ago, she had gone up 1.5 sizes in less than 5 months which is unusual for her, obviously had a growth spurt. I don't see the relevance of term ending soon, as it's not likely that the shoes will be too small by September so they can wear the same ones.

Buy new shoes, they'll likely still fit by Christmas and into Jan/feb?

Buy new.

This happened to us last year.

Granddaughter's big toes were white on the ends.

She had new shoes three weeks before the summer holidays.

Just replaced those this half term.

They nearly lasted a full
Year.

I'm not sure it's got anything to do with blooming resilience. You wouldn't wear shoes that didn't fit so why should a child?

I just buy new when needed, I don't try and wait for September.

Literally had to buy some yesterday, last pair were December,

I don't know what the problem is here? If your child needs new shoes, then buy them new shoes - it's not something they're randomly demanding

And I'm speaking as the single parent of a DD who regularly grew out of her shoes every 3 months - regardless of school terms - I would despair at how often she needed new shoes - but what's the alternative?? - you leave your DC to suffer in too-small shoes?

Would you be happy wearing shoes that are too small?

I don't know how old your DC is but be aware that children's bones are still forming when they're young, so it's important

Their feet are not! Wearing ill fitting shoes can permanently damage feet!
Plus, it is not OK tovhave a child in discomfort like that. It is abusive.

I bought my children shoes when they needed them. I didn't use the calendar.

Why do some people feel the need to be aggressive on here?

She has some Lelli Kelly black patent pumps that fit so I was going to maybe let her wear those. But I think I’ll buy the new ones now. I have this obsessive voice in my head which says that children need new school shoes every September.

At no point have I suggested it’s ok to let a child suffer in too-small shoes and I also buy expensive brands like Young Soles - not Shoe Zone.