What parents should know in developing children's feet, a selection of footwear and maintenance

The purpose of this guide is to help parents make an informed decision about the type of children's shoes, they buy for their children and how it affects their foot development. Set the size now, you can prevent many problems later in life, here are some facts to guide you.

FACT # 1: Did you know that children's feet continue to grow until they are about 18?
For this reason it is desirable that they are well equipped with shoes and feet must be reviewed and evaluated every three to four months and shoes replaced when it was passed. Most foot problems that adults encounter is due to a lack of attention to their feet when they were younger. Improving the quality of the shoes on your children and I thank him for the future.

FACT # 2: Why my son's shoes do not last long enough?
There is a common myth that shoes are made to last a long time with the children. But the truth is that in children, the average life of a pair of shoes is 4 months, depending on quality shoes. So you are getting exceptional value for money when you buy a pair of shoes that lasts 6 months? Often neglected by parents is that active children require enormous abuses shoes. The child has an average balance of about 20,000 steps a day, covering a distance of about eight miles, mainly shoes School. These are not normal as walking steps taken by an adult, but trampling, running, jumping, skidding, twisting, scratching, kicking measures to severely punish those shoes. Also these shoes are exposed to gravel, stone, flooring, chemicals, dirt, water and soil. If the pads to give three months of grueling wear satisfactory under these conditions, the child would have covered a distance of about 700 miles. If the shoes sell for say £ 35, which on average in just over 4p a mile - certainly less expensive transport can be purchased. Shoes should be purchased not primarily on the basis of being trash, but to be overcome.

FACT # 3: hand-me-down must be avoided at all costs?
This is a very controversial issue. However, if a parent is faced with a problem of the budget - and sometimes the choice of hand-me Down or without shoes at all - not to treat what is best, but with what is realistic, practical. In the case of children's shoes, "the problem of the hand of Mr. Downs for the next youngest child was not so serious. Usually, these shoes were worn only for a short period. The child is usually done footprint" small " Within the shoe, and not otherwise get their shoes out of shape. So when the economic conditions leave no choice, hand-me-down shoes will not be a serious problem. To be safe always have inspected by a lineman for speacialist shoes. shoes school is best avoided as the hand-me-down as they tend to be more stressful for all children to wear.

FACT # 4: You know that one of your feet might be bigger than the others?
Yes it's true, so it is advisable to have both feet measured when buying a new pair of shoes for yourself or your children. In addition, a size 10 in Clark is not the same size 10 and Ravel. E 'used as a guide to standard, but the materials and the shape of the shoe last (the model on which the shoe is constructed) determines the final adjustment of the shoe, so some of us may take 2 or more dimensions of shoes, and everything be quiet.

FACT # 5: The high-heeled shoes for children?
Provided that is not used as everyday shoes, is not desirable for children to wear high heels every day. One might ask why? Since children's feet are not fully developed until the mid-twenties. In high heels weight and stress on the feet go forward, and bearing in mind that your feet are not fully developed at this stage may cause permanent damage, because your feet are not able at this stage to fully bear the extra weight and focus on it.

FACT # 6: footwear brand for the best ever?
The answer is no, but that does not mean a pair of branded footwear, are not well made. However, we can make a mistake in choosing a project well done, not meeting your child's feet properly. So, make sure that the shape of the shoes you choose for your children are similar to the shape of the foot of the child. Remember the shoes made from natural materials are best for children's feet.

FACT # 7: Outgrown shoes, how could they be problematic?
Many parents and footwear retailers fail to recognize the seriousness of the problem is really beyond footwear. Several years ago a survey was conducted in the United States among the shops that sell children's shoes. They were asked to verify the adequacy of the old worn out shoes or children in the store to buy new shoes. It was found that over 75% of cases were too large to varying degrees. Furthermore, it was estimated by installers that more than half the children had shoes that are too large for one to three months, even if the shoe was of adequate size when mounted. The experience of many children are assembled simply by changing the shoes that were far away. Not surprisingly, many physicians and podiatrists believe that the problems off some or most adults begin in childhood and that many of these problems are caused, directly or indirectly with the habitual use of shoes during the long periods during the last childhood. It 'so important for parents to monitor their children's shoes from time to time to ensure that they are not exceeded and cause damage to their feet in later adult life.

FACT # 8: How do I take care of shoes wet or damp?
It is not uncommon for a fast drying shoes on a hot radiator or in a dryer, especially if it is the only pair of the child and must be worn the next day. This must be avoided, because the causes of dry quickly wither and the tip of the shoe and leather to shrink. This can reduce the shoe with a maximum size when the shoe is on, can also damage the fibers of leather and sometimes crack the skin. Shoes should always be dried at room temperature and possibly with shoe trees inserted during drying to prevent curling or shrinkage.