To buy velcro shoes for my 10 yo DS?

[oriel2013]

Overheard football mums talking about how there's no way they'd buy velcro shoes for their DS. Our children are still in primary school at the moment but some have older DS's who've gone to secondary school this year. Consensus was they'd look 'ridiculous' in velcro shoes.
It's not occured to me at all, my yr 5 and yr 3 boys both got velcro shoes in September and I'd probably look at the same again next year, it's easier and they are happy with them.
I'm now wondering if this is a 'thing' or just these mum's opinions? Don't want my sensitive lad getting picked on at secondary for my lack of thought!

God it never occurred to me that it would be an issue. My y8 boy wears velcro school shoes, pretty sure his friends do too, he has never mentioned it being a problem and I think he'd have told me!

He was quite late getting the hang of laces, but can do them now. But we needed comfy, hard wearing school shoes as he has a long walk to school, and these were the best option.

My 10 year old can do laces and does in his football boots and hiking boots but he’s only a size 13 so most school shoes are Velcro. He’ll get free choice next year (p7) but I will get him to wear laces for secondary the following year.

DS has these but in leather and is in Y7. He's not had any bullying about it and if anyone said anything he'd probably just laugh- he's a lazy and much prefers Velcro to laces. He can do laces but can't be bothered.

My DS is in yr7. We went to buy new shoes last weekend as he's put a hole on his first pair already.
He's a contrary kid who simultaneously doesn't give a shite what he wears but then won't be "guided" in his choices.
The only pair he would accept that would also meet the uniform policy were Velcro. He's been in lace up for years. No problem with laces. I told him Velcro was really only for young kids and those who struggle with laces. I warned him he may be teased. He was adamant that he wanted them.
I guess I'm happy that he's confident to style it out. Or maybe there are a lot more secondary kids wearing Velcro shoes than I imagine?

DS1 is dyspraxic and did struggle with laces (especially the right shoe, interestingly) but he was adamant he did not want velcro shoes at Secondary. So we practiced throughout the summer holidays and he sort of got the hang.

It's also worth noting that he may very well have to wear a tie at Secondary! Another skill that is tricky for people with dyspraxia.

You can buy the following .. makes lace ups into slip ons..
My eldest Grandson ( ASD and dyspraxia found it very hard to tie shoe laces.. .. he couldn't do it until age 16.. although we kept showing him.

DS1 wore velcro shoes in year 7. No one noticed or cared!

I wish people read the bloody post. She is NOT suggesting they'd wear them at secondary!
Do they have issues tying laces or is it just easier?

She said it hadn't occurred to her not to buy Velcro shoes and she didn't want him to be picked on at secondary.

My sons wore velcro shoes at secondary. They were just lazy. No one cared. Some adult trainers have velcro. Clarkes do a size 9 older boys school shoe in velcro and probably bigger but mine now have AF1s. It was never a problem. My son wore velcro until age 14. There's more to worry about at secondary than laces.

My Foster son is 17 and has learning disabilities and can't tie laces so he always has velcro black shoes. I don't see it matters.

They're just like my DS had until age 14 and his brother until he left school!

Primary school yes, secondary school no.

My son is 16 and every pair of school shoes he’s had have been Velcro ones. He has always opted for them. I just asked him if anyone had ever commented on them and he looked completely baffled and said “No, they’re just shoes” so either nobody notices or he’s oblivious to any sidelong glances!

My DD15 and DS13 still wear velcro school shoes, they prefer them. They can both tie laces. As far as I'm aware no-one has said anything about it to them, I don't think they'd be bothered if anyone did say anything.

I buy the Adidas kind with stretchy laces and one band of velcro on the top.

Like these: https://www.expresstrainers.com/adidas-fortarun-el-junior-37438-0-p.php?gclid=Cj0KCQiA-62tBhDSARIsAO7twbb4lMM0xb7_A1PNQ6iWxHOqorRFNOwqkWpQiCYic7snWoIN7jdHWtQaAsAFEALw_wcB

I wouldn't get him the three strap kind that look young but this is a good compromise

Lots of kids had Velcro shoes at all three secondary schools mine went to.

despite Sen related fine motor skills issues both of mine learnt to tie laces whilst in primary due to tap shoes and football boots but both wore Velcro in secondary due to having tiny feet.

Adults that have velcro are available as even adults have different abilities for different reasons.

My son wore velcro up to year 7 and 8 with no issues at all. The boys in his year were in a mix of velcro and laces.

My DS, yr 8, adult size 8, has gone back to velcro after wearing lace ups for a term, as he plays football in them at lunchtime and completely trashed the toes/they were hanging off. The velcro ones have tough rubber toes, which don’t seem to exist in lace ups.

The parents that are telling their children they can't wear Velcro shoes to school because they're babyish and people will laugh at them, are the ones raising the bullies.

My children choose their own shoes.

Velcro until at least year 8 and beyond if you want to. Never laces at primary 🤷‍♀️ just why???

My DC would not have been capable of laces until Yr10. Many disabled kids aren’t. If any child is typing exams, no way can they do laces. He’s now Yr13 and can do them but it actually does physically hurt

I wouldn’t buy them for DS9. No issues with dyspraxia and he’s been able to do uk his shoelaces for a good while now. We saw a pair of adidas shoes recently and they were velcro, DS said he wouldn’t wear them since they were velcro

My DS is in year 8 - has school shoes with Velcro. No one has commented or cares. No idea why it's being equated to a life stage. It's just Velcro. It holds the shoe in place, like a lace. He can do laces but would rather not.

I work in a secondary school (and have seen 4 of my own DCs through secondary school).
Plenty of years 7 - 11 wear Velcro shoes. No one cares. Mine could tie their laces but liked the speed and ease of Velcro. Only stopped when they couldn't get them in their size.