To wonder if proper school shoes are needed?

[IgnoranceNotOk]

What would be better for a child’s growing feet?

Is there a reason they need structured school shoes or are trainers actually better as they’re flexible and comfortable?

AIBU to think school shoes are a gimic?

I can’t find anything online to tell me scientifically if proper shoes are needed.

Here we go!

😂

Has this been done to death before? I’ve not seen any.

I’ve always put DS1 in Clarks shoes (which seem to scuff and look battered very quickly) and then in the summer term he needed new ones so I grabbed some leather ones quickly on a Friday morning from sainsburys.

DS2 is going to be a harder battle with school shoes so it just got me thinking of the reasoning of structured shoes and if they are actually better for children’s feet - please tell me if they are and I’ll stick with formal school shoes as they need to have what’s best.

Thanks for an interesting google! Basically, trainers do not provide the support needed for feet. Feet can spread and lose arch support when wearing trainers all the time. So yes, school shoes are necessary.

From what I've read the issue isn't the type of shoe but the fitting and quality. If the shoe is poorly fitted and squashes toes or is too roomy causing poor support then it is damaging. Also the quality of the sole etc. impacts how much the shape of the shoe changes, leading to poorer fitting over time. I suppose it's six of one- a well fitted shoe is probably better than a battered trainer, however a well fitted good quality trainer is better than a cheap ballet shoe.

No idea about the science, but I'd be far happier sending my 6yo off in a tracksuit and runners every day than a pinafore, tie and leather shoes. So impractical for running and playing.

Thanks this is helpful - I’ll stick with black shoes then for them.

I only started looking because a barefoot video keeps popping up on SM going on about the shape of shoes and how they shouldn’t be firm.

Would say Clark shoes for primary as the are fitted well. They are well made so should last until outgrown if not I have returned in the past and got a replacement.

Support in shoes is a myth.

feet are designed to support themselves and the body.

if the feet are supported, they get lazy and stop using their muscles to support themselves.

its why orthotics are now frowned upon and foot exercises to strengthen feet are advised as a first port of call.

Our school is really strict and it has to be black leather like shoe. No trainers / noticeable branding etc.

Good shoes do sipport feet well, but trainers probablt do it as well.

Assume our school is more about smartness and stops kids/parents taking the mick. I bought my son decent shoes, but he is (was- now on holidays) choosing to wear trainers and I've warned him of the consequences so he is aware, im staying out of it and he'll have to deal with any consequences from school .

Trainers here.

for us they've always fallen apart too quickly :(

Are feet designed to support the body?
Originally we were swinging through trees or padding on all fours.
So are our feet not a compromise between original design and evolution?

@TheHeadOfTheHouse Are orthotics now frowned upon? I'm in my fifties and have worn them for the last twenty five years due to flat feet causing severe knee and hip pain up the chain .
What exercises are there? Or are these only for developing feet?

You can get barefoot school shoes, but the ones that my friend's kids had were £££, fell apart faster than Clarks, and her DD said that she felt like a duck when she was wearing them 🤷🏼‍♀️

Luckily, our school accepts leather polishable trainers

Their Nike Airforce 1s last a full school year - Clarks barely manage a term!

Our school are not strict at all, after much trial and error we've settled on Adidas Tensaurs for our boys. Every pair we've bought have lasted until outgrown in good enough condition to be passed down as emergency spares.
Shoes don't need to be supportive. Flat, wide and flexible is what you want.

Yeah orthotics were the first thing they used to put in shoes at the first sign of any pain or flat feet.

now there is all sorts of strengthening exercises for feet (even fully formed, non growing feet)

there are a number of fb groups about barefoot shoes and many people who had orthotics for years have now ditched them after going to barefoot shoes and doing foot exercises religiously.

theres also a book called “all body barefoot” is by someone called Katy. In there are exercises and plenty of information about feet and what they’re designed to do.

shoes these days are over styled and not foot shaped, big massive wedge platforms on the soles etc.

a lot of people who wear normal shoes have bunions, hammer toes and really ugly feet and it’s because of the over design and style of shoes, trainers etc.

If the shoes looked scuffed, do you polish them?
A good rub down on a Sunday night with some black cherry blossom or kiwi polish keeps school shoes looking smart, protects the leather and increases waterproofing.

I would always go for properly fitted school shoes.

DD physio said the vast majority of girls school shoes aren’t supportive enough. I personally hate ‘girls school shoes’ as they’re really restrictive for running and climbing and they’re feet get wet when it rains. It’s a nightmare trying to find suitable shoes (very limited choice) which also fit well.

Thanks everyone - I can honestly say I’m more confused over what’s best than ever 😂

I think I’ll go for Clarks, or similar, and get the ones which seem more flexible and like trainers…
At least that’s easier for boys!

Son used to be in battle reenactment- wearing authentic (non supportive) shoes and chain mail for running around fighting battles gave him quite bad plantar fasciitis.... I would recommend decent supportive shoes.

@IgnoranceNotOk

if you want science have a look at the work of Katy Bowman on children’s feet and what shoes are best.

Aa someone else said, fit is important as kids need a wide toe box so their toes aren’t squashed together all day. Be careful of that in Clarks. Trainers can squish toes too. Arch support for kids is a myth too. The last thing they need is a stiff rigid sole.

I don't know about evidence, but leather shoes aren't very hard wearing, well not for my 2 DD's anyway. DD1's had already taken a battering by Feb half term, she wore her trainers for the rest of the year. I did ask the school, they allow trainers (but advise that expensive ones are probably not the best idea). Her school is very focussed on sports though, so there is a free sports club before school, sports clubs at lunch time etc so they encourage trainers to be at least brought to school every day.

Dd2 has just done reception, she wore leather boots during the winter as her feet got cold. She wore shoes the rest of the time but they were hanging on by a thread that last week of school. I'm looking at the more trainer like shoes in the boys section of Clarks for her this year.

This. I spent my early years in Africa and the middle east and lived barefoot and in flip flops. I didn't wear a proper shoe until I moved to the UK at 8 years old. No feet issues whatsoever.