Are you a bad mum if you don't buy...

[btfly2]

to your children Clarks, Start Rite, Hampton school shoes? Would you think badly of me...? In our school it's the non written norm but I'm thinking to be brave and break the rules...aibu ?? ;)

A local shoe shop in my area was closing down last year, they happened to stock Clarks. I picked up tons of pairs (various sizes) for about £3-£4 a pair. I was over the moon. However, not one pair of Clarks, thus far, have lasted any longer than any of the cheaper pairs I've bought in the past. The current pair he's been wearing about 2 months and the seam at the front of the shoe is pulling apart, they've lost shape completely around the sides and the sole is quite worn aleady. Massively disappointed to be honest and if they had worn well then I would have continued to buy them in the future at full price, but they're just not value for money at all.

My mum worked in a shoe shop. I was forced to wear properly fitting shoes until I was in high school! I've learned from her and only ever kit out my kids in properly fitting shoes. Occasionally I've bought cheap shoes for a holiday or party and they've fallen to bits and fitted badly.

No child should have to wear poorly fitting shoes.

It baffles me when parents are happy to fork out a lot of money for fashionable footwear that offers no support. My friend refuses to get her daughter fitted for shoes, guesses her size, always buys shoes in a size bigger so she can grow into them... but it is happy to pay £100 for Uggs for her 5 yr old.

I don't mind if my kids' shoes don't match their outfit perfectly, so I'm happy if they only own a couple of pairs of good fitting shoes. I know other parents that want every outfit to match perfectly so would rather have 10 pairs of cheap shoes.

I think the fit and quality are much more important than the price or brand.

Most important factor is the shoes fit. Nothing else matters, price, brand, fashion, all irrelevant.

YANBU, ignore anyone who judges and if they say anything just tell them their preferred brand doesn't fit your DC properly, end of discussion.

No!! As long as they fit, and are comfortable, no one should ever judge. Please try not to hold yourself to these kind of expectations.
My daughter has Clark's shoes, mainly because she's got wide feet, I feel somewhat jealous of those who don't have to pay the same silly amount for school shoes which are often passed down with not a great lot of wear (DD is 8 and wears a 4 H- I think!) So she's grown quickly!

If you feel that you may be judged, and this bothers you, I'd like to recommend Clark's outlet stores... we saved 50% off a pair of perfectly good school shoes once.

I bought my DD Clarks at the start of reception. She outgrew them within weeks. Bought her another pair, they didn't last past Christmas through not great quality. Thought bugger that and bought her a pair from Next. Lasted into the next school year.

My daughter has had Asda shoes and they lasted a whole year. They went in the heel, the same way Clarks do. I don't understand why the heel goes and they can't be fixed as the heel is hollow.

We have Clarks now and the only pair is stock had toys in the shoe. I was as to why school shoes would have toys in them.

I felt terribly guilty about the Asda shoes, we were broke at the time but I'd buy them again if she is ever in whole size when we need to buy new shoes (they don't do half sizes).

Personally I think it's mental that kids in the UK are made to wear heavy, inflexible shoes to school. These shoes stop them from running, playing or being physical at break time. They also encourage clomping instead of a good gait. Better to have kids in a decent pair of lightweight, flexible trainers or bare feet. But anyway, that's off point.

Those of you who are saying they go to clarks to get a proper fit on their child's shoes, might be interested to know that not all the shoe fitters will have gone through any proper training. I used to work in a kids clarks shoes dept, was in there for 8 months before I was sent away for any proper training, and I was fitting kids shoes by myself on day 1 of the job.

Yanbu to not buy clarks, I did for my eldest when he first started school, but they were ruined within 3 weeks and I've never bought any for school again. I know what you mean tho about it being the norm in schools, but don't buy them unless u really want to. No one really cares do they? :)

kiwiinkits kids are not made to wear such shoes, there are plenty of minimalist school shoes available, they're not often available easily on the high street, but that's because of the outdated views and continued advertising success of clarks etc.

DD is far from the only child in minimalist shoes in YR1

I always buy clarks in their outlet but fit them myself as the the fitters are useless. DD1 has odd shaped feet and clarks are the only brand to fit. DD2 has had other brands eg next or sainsburys leather shoes and even lelli kellis which have lasted about a fortnight at the most whereas Clarks have lasted until outgrown, normally all year but at worst two pairs a year. They are little over £20 at the outlet shop

Yes Temporarily how have your daughter's feet stayed the same size for 4 years?!

I used to buy clarks as they fit well and lasted all year but the last couple of years they have been shit. After last years went in a huge hole in the sole I gave up.

This year the girls have kickers and they've been fine so far. DS has whatever fit him. I didn't pay much attention as he's due a growth spurt so I doubt they will last past Christmas.

My dc's feet started slowing down growing when they were about 10/11. Before that at least twice a year had to buy a pair because feet grew.
But 4 years without growing? Wow.

But anyway I bought shoes that fit

she was in Year 5 and we have just replaced them. She is in Year 9.

I can't see how it's possible for a child's feet to not grow at all in 4 years, especially 4 years that basically cover most of puberty. All of mine have gone up at least 1 size per year at that age.

I was always forced to sturdy Clarks shoes ( as did most middle class parents ) it seemed however they were never wide enough for my feet to I generally wore a size bigger to increase the width which meant they were too long.. My foot still has a bunion on the same side as my mum and her grandad so have decided it's inherited.
Yanbu if you buy shoes that fit wherever they are from..my son could not have Clare's as his feet were shaped like dairy lea triangle cheese with a narrow pointed heal and a broad flat foot. We found m and s boys shoes were great and then went onto kickers which last for ages while comfortable as a baby we would by boots from French boutiques as they fit well.

My son has really wide feet and so I got him Clarks or Start Rite, as they literally only had one style in each brand that a) were wide enough and b) met the school uniform policy. He had the same styles year after year. He is now in sixth form and has chosen to buy Clarks mens shoes because he prefers comfort to fashion - his prom shoes were from Matalan and he came home with blisters and cuts everywhere. It all depends on the fit rather than the style. If you visit an outlet store you can usually get them for a good price - DS just bought a pair of brogues for £20.

I'm an adult with size three feet, I had a relatively early puberty and haven't grown much in terms of height or shoe size since I was 11/12

Thanks for your answers , I might sound a bit naive but many answers were definitely an eye opener. Thank you!

plenty of minimalist school shoes available

Very interested by this Sirfredfredgeorge. Could you elaborate? Genuinely keen to hear more. Any websites/brands you'd recommend?

I buy Clarks in sales, Clarks on Ebay, Clarks from carboot sales, other well-made shoes from other shops. I nearly always manage to pay less than 15 pounds a pair, often a lot less than that.

My almost grown up dd was a size 6 when she was about 10 and has never changed size since.

My son wears 'barefoot' shoes; low rise, flexible and wide at the toe. There's sound science behind this kind of footwear. I think the brands are probably on par or a bit more expensive than Clarke's but the quality is good and they tend to last the school year. The website I use is Happy Little Soles.

I was one of about 5 people in the country who had fitted Clarks trainers at secondary school and I swore I would never inflict that shame on my children... Ricosta and Kickers shoes stand up well to the rigours of the playground, Clarks not so much, Startrite are hit and miss IMHO