To want to buy a pair of school shoes that cover the whole of my daughter's foot?

[LiegeAndLief]

Dd starts school in September. She has an older brother. I have already negotiated the complexities of uniform buying for girls (boys: trousers, tshirts, jumper, possibly shorts in summer; girls: trousers, skirts, pinafore dress, gingham dress, jumper, cardigan, endless styles of tshirts...) and now have to buy some shoes this week.

Is it just me or are school shoes for girls not very practical for the winter? They only just come over the toes! We only have Clarks near us without travelling quite a way so I have looked online but without much success. Any ideas? I am tempted to buy her some boys shoes...

Maybe I'm just too old? ted

My younger son has really thin feet, and really thin ankles.

The best pair of shoes, (so far) have been from Next! flat and they grip him round the ankle. They are not leather, but we will see how they go!

I think modern day school shoes look like ugly Lego.

I know I wouldn't have had my 'problem' back in the 70's :)

This is what I've just got my two girls, I'm really happy with the sturdiness and quality, and my girls still think they look pretty and grown up

www.very.co.uk/hush-puppies-girls-adara-patent-monk-shoes/1271242523.prd?_requestid=25937

My two both say Mary Jane style shoes are babyish now.

www.very.co.uk/hush-puppies-girls-adara-patent-monk-shoes/1271242523.prd?_requestid=25937

OP I could have written your post!

I ended up getting DD some school shoes from the 'boy' section. At the moment she's excited because they're just like her older brothers, but we shall see what peer pressure does...

She tried on some handmedown school trousers from a friend and said 'I look just like you mummy!' as I have some grey linen trousers which I often wear for work.

There are websites that tell you different ways of lacing shoes to get a better fit if you have slim feet/ankles etc.

You can also get foam pieces to put between the top of your foot and the tongue. My husband got some of these because shoes usually have too much depth for him. He is so pleased to have shoes that finally fit.

Sorry to state the obvious, but don't say anything derogatory about your son's feet to him, because you don't want him to be ashamed of them.

I bought dd these shoes from the Clarks outlet store for £10 last year. They cover up the foot more than other girls shoes and are really good quality. I can't believe they're £24 on this website. I've found 3 pairs of Dd's shows we've bought for £5-10 from outlet and TK MAXX selling for £12-£33 on this site. Even £24 is good for a good pair of shoes though IMO.

shoes for kids

Sorry they're the Clarkes Daisy Dance ones right at the bottom.

ted No we don't. Unfortunately he is unable to tie laces yet (at 10) as he suffers with disgraphia. This can prove problematic with handwriting /fine motor skills.

But...although at the moment he can't, one day he will and I will take a look on line.

Thanks for your help.

My 8 year old DD has had unisex lace up shoes but is now back in Mary Janes with Velcro. Lace ups a bit faffy after PE.

She has boots for school in winter.

Feminine - Your welcome. Socks with comfort padding help to reduce feet slippage too.

We bought the foam inserts that go on top of the foot from a hiking shop. They really work (my husband had given up on ever finding well fitting shoes and now he's bounding about happily!).

Eyelets positioned higher up the shoes help them fit slim ankles more securely. There are also springy laces and one pull lace mechanisms with toggles.

My son has slim feet and wears velcro. His shoes are Clarks, but the leather is so soft it gives and so stretches after a while, meaning they're too wide for him. Sorry, I like talking about shoes. I must get out more!

I was one of those girls with 'boys shoes' or 'sensible shoes' as my gran called them. Don't do it to your daughter

This annoys me too - girls footwear being impractical only suitable for dry, clean conditions and looking pretty...
Now DD2 wears trainers to school anyway (as I did DD1 by the end of primary) - Clark's black and pink ones at the moment ...but before has had various colours...
(at our school they wear gym shoes indoors - so shoes are only worn walking to school and during playtime -so I don't get them anymore )
I think Clarks are listening though - a couple of years ago they only did white and pink trainers for girls - drove me insane as DD1 loved nothing more than playing football in the mud - they were ruined within a week - gradually they introduced more darker ones and now I think the majority are dark...
Saw a link up thread for some shoes for girls (can't remember which) - almost like trainers with a decent grip etc - like the ones Clarks do for boys ...now if they did them for girls I would get those for school for DD2...

BTW For those who were sad they didn't get 'girls shoes' -
I did get some black school type shoes for DD2 just over a year ago - from Tesco - for a funeral.
She wanted to wear them to school so I said she could when she wanted to..after a week or so she was choosing to wear her trainers...

I always felt the opposite issue -my girls' have lovely comfy Clarks girl shoes whilst poor DS had to have his feet cooped up in chunky lace-ups!
They spend more time indoors than outdoors and must get awfully hot at times. The velcro strap style allow a little more breathing room and are also easier to whip on and off.

Bring them some trainers/ wellies/ snow boots for home time if you have a long walk. I don't see the playtime issue -my daughters are pretty lively and have never complained about their shoes slowing them down!

DD1 has never had girly school shoes - she's always had Kickers; the velcro ankle boots when she was younger, the chunky, t-bar shoes until the end of Y3. She's decided she wants 'proper' school shoes this year . The compromise has been navy blue SuperFit Mary Janes. They have decent grips and no heel.

DD2 starts Reception this year. She has hypermobile ankles so really needs more support than most girls' school shoes offer. Until now she's worn Kickers and, in the summer, sandals (Petasil, Ricosta etc.) but for starting school she has chosen some red ankle boots - intended for boys. She's delighted with them...I am hoping she'll remain enthusiastic about them once she's in a class where other girls have opted for something rather more dainty.