Girls school shoes for Reception- what type?

[baldfrog]

This is a silly question probably, but what type of school shoes have you gone for your girls starting school next month? Closed shoe type or Mary Jane style?

DD is starting prep, I know they are not allowed trainers of course, and most girl shoes are the Mary Jane type but wondering how practical these are!

Thank you x

Those active type school shoes so they can still run in them!

How frustrating is it that all boys shoes are practical especially for wet weather but girls…. Not so much! Still want nice girly shoes for her too.

A bit like these: https://www.clarks.com/en-gb/barley-step-kid/26184993-p

I feel quite strongly that she should be able to run and climb in her shoes though! Rather than look pretty.

(But that’s me projecting a bit - I wore girlie and pretty shoes my whole life, and now have mild foot problems and wear comfortable active shoes almost all the time and can’t believe how nice it is to have comfortable feet!)

My daughter doesn’t like the Mary Jane style shoe and refuses to wear them so last year we got some patent Chelsea type boots. I find they are more practical for the winter months.

There's nothing stopping her wearing a black trainer type shoe as she is a girl though, if you think she will be bothered there are plenty with embossed stars etc on. DD found school shoe MJs fine though, the soles tend to be as robust as ones viewed as boys shoes, if it was really wet she'd wear her PE black trainers or had some ankle boot type ones. There are actually far more choices for girls than for boys.

My DD has Mary Jane style but they are chunkier and she also has Chelsea boots for wet/colder weather. Look at next, and Jules Oliver

We’ve always had the Mary Jane type ones and my daughter has been fine in them (and Clark’s ones have lasted until outgrown despite many on here saying they last only weeks). I’d say my child is about average in terms of being active and fairly non destructive.

i noticed Clark’s have some this year which are trainer like but have pretty charms on them which may fit the bill of girly but practical??

My girls when younger always had Mary Jane style shoes (odd shaped feet and these were the only ones that worked) And this never stopped them from running, climbing, jumping, etc. I don’t think I can ever remember wet feet but they would sometimes come in wellies if very wet, both boys and girls.

Are you sure they can't wear plain back trainers? My DD is going into yr2 and always wore plain black trainers. Much more practical for both the poor weather we have and for active play. She also then doesnt need to wear her 'home' trainers on PE day either so it's simpler.

DD had closed shoes but patent and with unicorn/flower outlines on. We bought in Deichmann and supermarkets.

black shoes which look more like trainers...from amazon...i dont know they could be comfortable running in MJ style with the chunky sole.

What about Doc Martens - practical and sturdy

Why does she need a girly shoe for school? Surely a plain brogue type with either Velcro or laces is appropriate? And safe for her running about and will keep her feet dry-ish if she’s in puddles?

Definitely not laces unless she can tie them herself!

Which is why I said or Velcro?

Startrite patent are very durable and comfy and were always my go-to for pre prep. T-bars cover more of the foot than mary janes but still look girly if that appeals, and are very popular for the younger girls. Up the school they all wear mary janes or penny loafers. If it’s a private school they probably won’t allow anything trainer-y so I’d keep that in mind.

I would let your dd have some say in what she wears. My dd would never want to wear those style shoes posted above. She is very girly and has strong opinions on what she wears. I wanted her to get tbar style shoes because I think they look so sweet, but she insisted on the Mary janes. Every child is different though, some might prefer more of the sneaker style. But, explain the pros and cons you are worried about. DD wore mary janes for reception last year and was fine (as was my eldest for all of primary).

My twins had MJ types in Reception, which they destroyed within weeks.
After that, I went onto DMs, which both girls liked, but not great for warmer weather. Plus, my girls are so active - both have combined ADHD and don't stop moving - that DMs aren't really ideal.
This year (Year 3), I've bought both black New Balance 408, the laces of which I have subtly embellished (their school does not have a strict uniform policy).

As an ex-Reception and Year 1 teacher, please avoid strap shoes! I used to have lines of strap shoes and girls' socks and tights drying on the radiator every time they'd walked to school in the rain, or when it was a wet playtime. The only girl I remember having reliably dry feet wore brogues and Kickers lace-ups, which were much more sturdy and fit for running around and playing in. Unlike most of the strap shoes that I saw, the Kickers and brogues also lasted for the two years that I taught her!

A good sturdy mary jane are plenty practical for running about. Kickers or similar are good too.
At that age I pick a few options and let them pick between those. Give them some choice but you know they’re not going to choose something totally impractical.

My mum insisted on me wearing the trainer styles ones for a years in primary and I hated it.

We have a mary jane type for warmer, drier weather and then ankle boots for cold, wet weather. DD1 has hot, sweaty feet, so the mary janes are cooler for her. She also has very narrow feet, and 'her' brand of mary janes fit her better than any trainer I've ever found. They have a grippy, flexible sole, so don't slow her down at all running and climbing.

We have brought for year one. https://www.bgreatershoes.com/products/isabella-matte-black?_kx=yKCZsMlYXiZEGMbzWX38xkhmh531sTMDk2AhisKcGyEyxfZ5f27eNTj5IEom0V6n.WQ4hPe We haven't used this brand before but they seem to get good reviews. Our Prep school rule is that shoes must be able to be polished to stop trainer like shoes.
They put on trainers for playtime.

We had a closed type froddo shoe last year but they were very slim fitting.

I only get my DDs Mary Jane's or T-bar styles in spring. For autumn and winter I het closed in shoes, there are usually one or two girls' styles and sometimes I buy from the boys' section but only smart styles not black trainers.

DD is going into Y9, she has always worn the sports shoe type school shoes, or DMs.