Talk to Clarks about getting your DC's first school shoes and other milestones in their lives - you could win school shoes for your DCs for a year! NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

We've been asked by Clarks to find out about what Mumsnetters remember about getting their DCs first pair of school shoes.

Here's what Clarks say,

"From tearful to triumphant, there are many words that parents use to capture the excitement and emotion they feel about their child starting school for the very first time. Clarks understand how important the First Day of School is for both parents and children, and how sentimental parents feel about sending their child off into the big wide world.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Clarks have partnered with Ladybird to create a bespoke memory book, free with your child’s first pair of Clarks School Shoes. The memory book lets children and parents complete and capture all their first moments from their first year at school, from favourite lessons to favourite friends, and of course a space for a photo of your child in their perfectly crease free uniform and shiny shoes on their first day at school.

To complete your First Clarks School Shoes experience, you can also book a fitting appointment at a time to suit you. The occasion is made all the more exciting by being measured on a new Clarks iPad Foot Gauge! Book online at www.clarks.co.uk/storeappointments, phone 0844 248 8408, or in store. Clarks also have over 7,000 trained fitters in stores over the back to school season and Clarks stores open for longer for the summer holidays to make sure your shopping experience is completely hassle free"

So, what do you remember about getting your DCs first school shoes? Maybe it's having their feet measured? Or perhaps it's the number of shoes they tried on before finding the right pair? Was this a big milestone in their lives? What other milestones are important to you?

If your DCs aren't old enough for school just yet, is getting their first pair of school shoes a milestone that you're looking forward to? Was being fitted for their first pair of shoes a milestone? Are there any other milestones which you think are important? If so, what are they?

Everyone who comments on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will receive school shoes for their DCs (worth up to £150) for a year.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

My daughter was very late in getting a school place so we were both so excited after having to wait until October. Getting her school shoes was very last minute and all part of the excitement of finally going to school after waiting so long!

There is something wonderful about little boy in serious black shoes. I can't say we enjoyed the experience (3 weeks ago) but happy with what we got.

I had an awful experience with Clarks. My DD hates anything tight on her feet. I tried to persuade the assistant that despite being measured as one size she did in fact prefer the next size up. It became a massive drama where eventually we left the store as the assistant was so determined to make my DD wear uncomfortable shoes that I gave up.

Another time I had to take a number from downstairs before I was even allowed to go upstairs to get another number (Bromley store) that I gave up and have not been back since.

I really don't remember the first school shoes! Their first proper shoes was more of a milestone, and we went to clarks and had the photo taken, etc. The first school shoes were probably just another chore amongst all the other things we had to do to get them ready for school!

We still need to get her first shoes next week, and I am dreading the queues! I do think that the first shoes were the biggest milestone. These are just more shoes to add to the ever growing shoe pile.

I got my eldest son's first school shoes from Timpsons, remember them?! Little shoe shop in our local shopping street, no mad queues or taking tickets, just walked in, got his feet measured and chose some shoes!! I don't really get all the fuss about making it a special occasion, it's just a pair of shoes for goodness sake!! ;)

We just got DD's first pair of school shoes this weekend, but not from Clarks. We had to give up on Clarks shoes when she was about 18mo as they are just too wide. We get her remeasured every so often, and without fail she comes up as an E a but even the D's can be pulled off when they're fastened.

So we didn't get the memory book, but I got plenty of actual memories instead. Like the typical 'try on 4 pairs and pick the first ones', and that lump in throat moment seeing how much older she suddenly looked with black shoes on her feet. And how proud she is of her shoes. She's shown them to everyone who's come through the door and worn them every day 'just to make sure they still fit'.

I loved our visit to Clarks for my sons first pair of shoes. They really made the time special by taking a photo and talking me through all the choices :)

I took my daughter to Clarks to get her first pair of shoes and I loved the extra special touch of Clarks taking a photo of my little girl smiling with her first pair of shoes on. It is something that will be saved forever.

Well, my son has always had Clarks like most posters below actually. I still have the photo of his first shoes beside my bed and am I a dad! Being like Dad, my son likes shoes, so the idea of school shoes was easy to sell (hey it's another pair of shoes to wear) but the school uniform was a completley different story. I marketed the first day at school by entirely relying on my son's ability to show off his new shoes, another headache swiftly negotiated!

My son's first pair of school shoes didn't last long at all. We spent time picking out a great pair from Clarks and then went to my mum's to show them off. He tried them on for my mum and then I put them away in the dining room, only for her little rascal of a dog to sneak in and chew one of them beyond recognition. 2yrs later and I'm still annoyed!

My son has ADHD and seems to go through school shoes like theirs no tomorrow. I spend hours searching shops for well made shoes which he will wear only to be upset a few weeks later when he's split the soles or scuffed the toes !

My daughter fell in love with a pair of boys shoes! We could not persuade her to try anything else on. So that's what she got. Should have seen then she would be a 'tomboy'. Never had her in girls shoes yet!!

My DD only ever has boys shoes. Much more practical and one reason to be honest that Clarks does not really work for us (all pink and flowers etc). The boys ones she had last year only lasted one term then the stitching went

I just remember the utter frustration at nowhere selling black school shoes for her Size 6G feet. I ended up getting a pair from Asda.

When I took her back to Clarks to see if by any miracle she now fitted the shoes they confirmed the Asda ones fitted perfectly.

When she did finally hit a larger size nothing still fitted as her high instep meant the Clarks shoes didn't have enough depth.

The same issue for ds. He was a size 5.5 E when he started school & he ended up having to wear navy coloured toddler shoes for a while

the first time we took him they said he had big feet! even now he does! he was 4 and they said hes feet of a 7 year old! ha!

goes through shoes like you wouldnt believe!! ha!

I do go to Clark's and John Lewis because I trust their fitters. I find the kid's shoes practical and stylish. The doll or car in the sole can be a nuisance though!

My first born has really wide feet so it was a bit of a case of what was in his size rather than the cutest pair. He still has big flipper feet and my youngest is a size 13 at 4 years old. Surely that's big?!

I remember buying a nice expensive pair of quality shoes, only for him to lose one a few days later on a shopping trip, I was sooooo upset!

I did see it as a milestone and took my eldest daughter a couple of years ago along making the mistake of saying she could choose whichever shoes she wanted for school. She chose THE most expensive shoes in the whole shop, something like £45 with little charms that could be attached and changed. I basically paid over a tenner for those charms didn't I? My second daughter is starting next week and I had a quick look and steered her towards the one I liked (with no charms!) ha!

First pair of school shoes is a financial milestone

It was always a stressful experience. My childrens feet are wide. I would go to a good shop selling shoes in various widths, but none would fit.
All we needed were plain black shoes which fitted.
Should have been simple.
Both children knew if they fit we bought, they were not allowed to say 'I don't like them'
Shoes were not made in wide fittings, so we had to buy larger sizes.

I think going to buy school shoes for my children reminds me of going to a lovely shoe shop with a rocking horse when I was younger. I remember going to get the first pair of clarks school shoes for my daughter! It brought back the memories with my parents of getting the right shoe! No patent, thick sole, supportive etc!!!! I also remunerated the first day she went to school with a slightly too big cardigan and a book bag that was half the size of her! She is now 10 and will start secondary school next year, another milestone. Still. A aged to get her the perfect Cinderella fit of clarks shoes last week whoop! I Think it's so important to get good shoes, most of her friends wear terrible ballerina type slip ons to school-I put my foot down and she loves the ones she's chose!

I remember my first ever shoe fitting was in a little independent shoe shop in Moreton. They had a portable shoe size that I had to stand on and that's when I first found out that I had one foot slightly bigger than the other! I was wearing frilly socks and my mum bought be beautiful, patent leather shoes with a diamond on them. As wonderful as the experience was, I was so jealous when, five years later, my sister got a similar pair but with a hidden key in the heel!

It was sad knowing that it is black shoes from now on! I much prefer the fun shoes in different colours with monsters and robots on. Now several years later, the vast quantity of black shoes that we have bought are just a blur.