to think that a pair of well fitting shoes is a neccesity (sp) for a child?

[smeeinit]

because im really and that a child i know is always in a pair of shoes/boots that are waaaaaay to big.

surely well fitted shoes are a basic for every child.

DS gets Clarks school shoes and then a cheap pair of trainers/out-of-school shoes because he is in school a lot more than he is at home!

I can't afford it - mostly my parents buy his expensive shoes but if I didn't have them it would be the choice between the weeks shopping or shoes...

WHY are kids shoes the same price as my weeks shopping?!! They use less leather than adult shoes so why are they more expensive!?

I asked that question when mine were younger Lewis and was told it's because there is more wastage as they have to be cut to fit differing width fittings - I was a bt at the time of that but still thought it was important so went along with it.

Ultimately you have to decide what is right for your budget and your children - personally I would rather go without myself and make economies elsewhere.

never polished shoes but it wouldn't cross my mind that people notice shoes.

I was always taught that it is one of the first (albeit old fashioned, I know) things that people notice in interviews.

My Dad, who used to interview a lot for his job, said if someone was well presented and then had scruffy, dirty shoes he wouldn't employ them . I wouldn't go that far, admittedly but I do think well polished shoes are an indication of how much someone wants to impress you, or that they pay attention to detail which is an important trait IMHO.

It does finish off an outfit as well. No point having lovely clean pressed clothes if the shoes are tatty.

The biggest reason for me though, is that if shoes are 'fed' with polish then they last a lot longer and when children are running around all day and playing football then if the shoes can last longer then it's worth a weekly polish.

the girls always have a fitted pair of shoes. the only time dd3 didnt was when she was refusing to wear anything apart from wellie boots.

i try and stagger purchasing shoes as they are expensive, and in sept it cost me well over £100 for shoes and plimsolls.

dd2 current trainers i bought last year in the sale for £10. i bought one size up and her usual width size. some people said i shouldnt buy ahead like that as her width size could change, but she has always been a G. i have checked the fit on her now and they are fine.

dd2 needs new school shoes, and dd1 needs trainers. will get the school shoes over half term and the trainers in a couple of weeks time.

My dd has had her shoes checked in clarks as I thought they were a bit tight on the width. She said she's got about 3-4 weeks to go on them. I took her to another branch and she said that they were too tight. What's all that about???

Good fitting shoes are important but...

who exactly is it that makes such a big deal about how kids need to be measured regularly and specially fitted by special people in special shops and OMG if you don't you are never going forgive yourself for making your child have little lotus feet for the rest of their lives!!

Oh erm let me see, it wouldn't be the shoe manufacturers would it? So, who exactly stands to gain the most from guilt tripping parents about shoes?

I have been in 2 different Clarks shops on the same day, and been given 2 different measurements. They are not all that.

If it's a major issue, why not do what I do, which is get measured in the shop, then go buy on Ebay?

going back to the OP - i agree that ideally children should have fitted shoes, thankfully, we can afford to, or borrow the money more often than not, to have fitted shoes for DD. But ive seen families, often with four kiddies who cannot afford to have them and there is an awful lot of pressure on us by the manufacturers, and i often wonder if we are being ripped off

I don't think that it's a necessity. I do think that shoes shouldn't be too tight but generally children will let you know if shoes hurt their feet. Most people can judge whether shoes are going to slip off (too big) or squash feet/toes (too small).
As for boots that are way too big. Does the child fall over in them because they are that big? Obviously not great and possibly dangerous if that's the case.