Kids shoes for shoe hating child?

[Fuckety]

Sorry, not sure if this is quite the right topic.

I have a 5yo ds who hates wearing shoes and socks. He spends all his time at home barefoot, at school he would take his shoes and socks off as soon as he arrived, the teacher could occasionally convince him to wear his PE pumps, but otherwise he would be barefoot all day, including playtime.

He just about tolerates wearing sandals or wellies but even in this weather he was walking around barefoot at the beach last weekend until his feet went blue with cold.

He says shoes don’t hurt him, he doesn’t think they’re particularly uncomfortable or anything, he just doesn’t like them and, after hearing a teacher say it to him once, now claims his feet are allergic to shoes and socks.

I was thinking about getting him some of the Vivo Barefoot shoes that look really soft. They’re only online though and quite expensive so just asking if anyone has any experience with them or similar brands? Or any other tips on getting a child to wear things on their feet that they don’t want?

I’d really like him to be able to go back to school, whenever it reopens, knowing that he’ll keep his shoes on all day. I thought this lockdown might be the chance to crack it but I’ll probably need to at least get some new shoes to try and sell it to him.

Is there a particular TV/book/film character he really likes? Maybe he'd be more inclined to wear them if, say he was a Paw Patrol superfan and they had the characters on them?

My daughter is similar. She spent most of primary school wearing pimsoles (pumps) instead of the proper school shoes (we were asked a few times "doesn't she have proper shoes?"). She also liked non PE style plimsoles which she wore out of school. Would he wear slippers in school? If they would let him.

Have a look on Happy Little Soles - they specialise in barefoot/minimal shoes for children. He might like the Bobux.

Having cold feet is fine, but you need to establish rules about when shoes have to be worn. My ds has always been a minimal clothing child, and at home wafts around in a cotton kaftan but in the winter he is required to not wear flip flops for instance

My son has had vivobarefoot shoes in the past. They’re great! Expensive but worth it IMO. Last ages and v comfy.