Ok so let’s talk all things school shoes and why they are going to be one of the most important purchases you make for your children this summer.

Our feet are the only basis through which we connect with the ground. Anything that we put on our feet therefore has an impact on this connection, our balance, stability and it also has a knock-on effect on all other joints right the way up through the rest
of our body.

There are therefore a couple of key things you want to think about when it comes to
picking the correct school shoe for your child.

1. A well-fitting, supportive shoe is the best investment you can make. With this in mind, make sure you get your children’s feet measured by a professional. This has been a bit of a crazy year with limited access to this type of service which has resulted in alot of “gu-estimating”. It is important to remember that a shoe that is too big will not give adequate support while a shoe that is too small can cause skin breakdown.

2. Make sure the shoe is well-structured with a supportive heel cup at the back. More flimsy shoes such as plimsoles or ballet-type shoes are a bit of a no-go for an everyday shoe.

3. Shoes with a flexible sole are so important for normal development of everyday activities that our children get up to such as walking, running and playing. With this in mind, please remember make sure that Astro Runners are for the Astro pitch only and do not require the support your child needs during the course of their day.

4. Shoes with laces that are firmly tied or those that have a thick velcro strap that fastens across the front, are vital to ensure support and stability for your child’s foot and ankle.

5. Shoes with a rubber sole that provides good grip and help stabilise your child as they go about their busy day.

So we’ve talked about what shoes to avoid but what shoes are actually recommended. The key thing to remember here is it is not always the most expensive shoe that is the best. Traditionally there has always been one or two brands that have dominated the market in terms of school shoes however nowadays there is a huge variety of shoes that will help to give your child the best support while also giving them the flexibility that is so important for their movement.

In terms of specific brands all the big shoe companies have upped their game including Asics, Nike, Adidas and Sketchers.

For those children with flatter, more flexible feet who may require a bit more support Geox, Pablosky and Biomechanics are also all great alternatives.

That being said, this is not an exhaustive list. All of the larger retailers including supermarket chains also do good shoes. Just remember to bear in mind the above pointers when you are looking and you can’t go wrong!