Back-to-school shoe fitting tips:

Kids can spend as many as 1,600 hours in school per year so choosing the right shoes is important for their comfort as well as for the growth and development of their feet. Making sure that your child is fitted correctly ensures that you can avoid damage to their feet that can become a problem later in life.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right shoe for the school year by Graeme Wheaton, Product Developer at Betts Kids.  

For Preschoolers

• Make sure that you invest in soft flexible shoes that offer good support and stability.

• A high degree of adjustability to give a snug fit on different foot shapes is also ideal.

For School kids

• The same principal of good fit, comfort, support, and breathability remain paramount.

• School shoes also need to be tough! School age children will spend more time in the school shoes than any other shoe that they might own. Simply it is the most important shoe in the wardrobe, and must be able to withstand very considerable wear and tear.  

• Look for shoes that are made of good quality, substantial leather, ideally with leather lining and insole, and strong outsoles.

• Leather is the best material for uppers and linings, as it will allow the foot to ‘breathe’ and is substantial enough to offer great protection and support where it’s needed

Fitting

• Having shoes correctly fitted is essential. If a shoe is too small, it can cause damage to the not fully formed bones of the foot. If it is too large, it is also a problem as this will make walking difficult, and may lead to unnecessary falls. Footwear that is too large also allow the foot to move inside the shoe and this can cause rubbing and blistering of the feet, particularly the heels.

• It’s important to have your child’s feet fitted by a specialist children’s footwear retailer who understands children’s feet and the footwear range available to them.

My company, Betts Kids, has invested research and development into what is known as Airflex technologies, with these key features.

Energy Pod System

• School shoes feature a shock absorbent pod in the heel region of the shoe. The shoes are designed specifically to be extremely durable while offering maximum all day comfort. Some styles feature 360 degree outsole stitching to give even greater durability.

Everlite

• School shoes features advanced sole materials and lightweight construction methods to ensure that shoes are at least 25% lighter than comparable shoes. The shoes are rigorously tested to assure the durability required for school wear is maintained. Some of these styles also feature 360 degree outsole stitching to give even greater durability.

Impact Cushion Technology

• This is a high-pressure air cushion that is placed in the rear mid- sole of the shoe – ICT school shoes borrow heavily from athletic shoe technology and are designed for all day comfort and uncompromised durability.

Protect- a -Toe

• School shoes feature an out-sole toe wrap that is placed on the shoes to provide scuff protection, for the most heavily punished area of the shoe, assuring durability and all day comfort.