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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

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Original poster

I don't want my DS to wear plimsolls

34 replies

gwenny740 · 02/01/2009 21:11

Do other Nursery Schools insist on children wearing plimsolls all day in school and nursery? I'm not pleased about my DS having to wear them, mainly due to the poor fitting and no width fitting options. I think it's madness to insist children are forced to wear poorly fitting shoes (especially when I pay good money to make sure he has good quality shoes that fit him perfectly)! As far as I can see, there is no real justification for this as they are taken outdoors in them too. I want to make a fuss about this - but worried that I'll be marked as 'one of those mothers!'
I've found some articles on the net saying that they offer no support to the foot, so shouldn't be worn for long periods of time; but wondered what anyone else thought.

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thisisyesterday · 02/01/2009 21:14

no shoes should support the foot. shoes should be to protect from the elements, that is all. any "support" risks preventing the foot from developing normally. so i wouldn't worry about that personally.

it is very odd if they are allowed outside in them as well.
at our nursery they have slippers for indoors and wear their regular shoes outside.

what do they say are the reasons for them wearing plimsolls all thet ime?

iheartdusty · 02/01/2009 21:30

is that really the case thisisyesterday?

'supporting the foot' is classic shoe lore, is it nothing but a myth?

thisisyesterday · 02/01/2009 21:31

well, i trained as a fitter at Clarks and it's what we were told during our training!

CarGirl · 02/01/2009 21:34

my hospital podiatrist said doodle type shoes are the best thing for dc as it is the closest to being barefoot that there is.

ByThePowerOfBaileys · 02/01/2009 21:36

Our Primary school has the kids wearing black plimsoles as indoor shoes all day.
Even if you stand your ground now you may find at primary you will have to change your policy anyway.

Original poster

gwenny740 · 02/01/2009 21:36

I haven't been given a satisfactory answer, so I've asked to see the written policy. Most other mothers seem to think it's a combination of keeping noise down and cleaning (which doesn't make sense when they go in the playground in them). Think it's worth making a fuss about?
I possibly wouldn't bother raising this, but my son has a size G/H width making his plimsolls very tight on his feet and most of the plimsolls I can find are standard E width.

OP posts:

Dottoressa · 02/01/2009 21:37

Barefoot is by far the best for children of nursery age. If they do wear shoes, the main thing is to stop them treading in undesirable things outside, or to stop them treading on things that could hurt them! Their feet don't need support - they can support themselves far better if they're not in shoes.

(I did a lot of research into this for professional reasons!)

I would not worry in the slightest about the plimsoll thing. Though it's bizarre that they wear them outside in winter - they wouldn't last a second!

I personally wouldn't like the idea of my DCs wearing shoes all day at that age. Children who are largely at home only wear shoes when they're walking outside, don't they? My children don't even wear them in the garden (as we have gravel directly outside the back door, they have very hard feet as a result!)

I would not fret about this!

SuperBunny · 02/01/2009 21:38

My pediatrician said the same as thisisyesterday. Surely plimsolls are just like slippers?

Wearing them outdoors is odd though.

I wouldn't make a fuss about this.

Dottoressa · 02/01/2009 21:38

(If you're really concerned about his wide fitting, you could ask if he could wear slippers/slipper socks inside, I suppose...)

CarGirl · 02/01/2009 21:38

get him some doodles?

thisisyesterday · 02/01/2009 21:39

i would ask if he could at least wear something like doodles. there isn't much difference between them and plimsolls anyway really, still soft soled and all that.
i would tell them that the plimsolls just don't fit him and you aren't happy with him in them all day, would they mind if you sent him in doodles or similar instead

ladyjuliafish · 02/01/2009 21:50

Clarks do plimsolls in a G fitting. If they don't fit then I would just say that he has to wear something else as he has wide feet and you can't get plimsolls. Its not really making a fuss if his feet won't go into the shoes. My ds is a C width and has to wear plimsolls for PE. The velcro helps them stay on but its not ideal.

Original poster

gwenny740 · 02/01/2009 21:50

Had a look at the clarks site at the doodles, so I'll get some of those for him. Just getting paranoid about him ending up with squashed feet as he lives either barefoot in the house or good shoes outside. I suppose it's just a hang up from when I was small when we were told not to wear plimsolls at school because they were bad for your feet.

OP posts:

girlandboy · 02/01/2009 21:51

My ds has to wear them all day at primary school. You might have to get used to it.

Eddas · 07/01/2009 09:24

when my dc went to nursery(stopped going in dec!) ds(20months) was barefoot in the 1-2's room, normal shoes for outside. DD(4) was sent in doodles. I believe the reason they prefer doodles/plimsoles. Dd also went to a preschool and had to change in plimsoles there. I think the reason is that they don't hurt so much if, for example, a child stands on another childs hand or something. Yes sounds a bit silly but it's true! Also, at the preschool i'd imagine with the wooden floor the plimsoles marked less(we haven't long had it varnished!) and also would make less noise, which believe me the children make plenty of noise without the shoes adding to it!

When ds first started at the nursery he wore shoes all day long, then they had a new floor put in his room and it becme no shoes. I beleive the baby room was no shoes anyway, this includes adults.

you have to get used to a number of stupid(IMO) rules at nursery, one of the reasons I didn't like it much. DD wasn't allowed to wear gloves ffs! the reason? because it stops them being able to pick things up etc so cold hands is fine

bozza · 07/01/2009 09:28

Startrite do them with velcro tops which I found better for wide and high footed DS. And doodles are width fitted.

misdee · 07/01/2009 09:29

gwenny clarks do width fitting plimsolls. i bought dd2 soem in a 13G last week.

MrsSanta · 07/01/2009 09:32

Clarks do doodles for plimsoles in shoes sizes as well 8g, 9h etc.
I always get dd and ds from there worth the extra, about £8 I think.

LIZS · 07/01/2009 09:38

In Europe it is common for children to change into a version of plimsolls, if usually a more colourful kind, like a cross with slippers, during indoor school time. Such shoes aren't width fitted but the kids'feet still turn out fine .

RubyRioja · 07/01/2009 09:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mamadiva · 07/01/2009 10:07

My DS's nursery asks that we have indoor shoes and outdoor shoes so he has slippers at the moment but am going to buy Doodle for him as I hate plimsoles.

He is 2.5YO and TBH he doesn't wear shoes in the house just if we are going out and even then they come off as soon as we get back, but at nursery it's shoes all the time.

I used to work in an afterschool club and the children had to have soft shoes inside partly to stop the floor being marked, less pain if treading on someone and also lss chance of a fall than with socks as some suggested.

compo · 07/01/2009 10:11

my dd started preschool today and refused to put on her plimsolls, so now I have to trek round town to find some slippers or soft shoes that she will hopefully deign to wear!!

christywhisty · 07/01/2009 10:21

It depends on the childs feet, but both a podiatrist and a paediatrician said my daughter needed to wear ankle boots to support her feet at that age. She was born with positional talipes which was sorted out with manipulation within a week of birth. But if she wears non supporting shoes you can see her ankle going over.
They have just bought in the rule about plimsolls at her primary school and to be honest I am not happy about it.But the reason given was to help with the cleaning,so if they are wearing them outside it defeats the object of wearing plimsolls in school.

Seona1973 · 09/01/2009 13:41

my dd has to wear plimsoles in school but they do change into outdoor shoes at playtime, lunchtime and home time - they must spend more time changing their shoes than doing any work!!

Seona1973 · 09/01/2009 13:41

my dd has to wear plimsoles in school but they do change into outdoor shoes at playtime, lunchtime and home time - they must spend more time changing their shoes than doing any work!!

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