As the new school year approaches, parents across the UK are buying uniforms and shoes, but an expert has urged caution against purchasing school shoes in a larger size. Oversized footwear can increase the risk of blisters, trips and falls, according to Nina Davies of the Royal College of Podiatry's Children's Podiatry Specialist Advisory Group.
In the past month alone, there have been over 375,000 UK Google searches for "school uniform". A recent survey by M&S found that 68% of parents in the UK have bought school uniform, including school shoes, in a larger size than their child needed at the time, intending for the child to grow into them.
Risks of ill-fitting shoes
Davies said: "Shoes should fit the child's feet as they are now, rather than the feet they're expected to grow into." She explained that shoes that are too large allow the foot to slide around inside, increasing friction and the risk of blisters and rubbing. They can also make children less stable, increasing the likelihood of trips and falls.
What makes a well-fitting school shoe
Davies continued: "The best school shoe is one that fits well today. While buying bigger may seem economical, choosing the correct size helps keep children comfortable, active and safe throughout the school day. School shoes are safety equipment as much as part of the uniform."
She noted that a properly fitting shoe should be secure and comfortable on the foot, not fall off, and work with the foot so that fastening systems, heel support and sole grip perform as intended. When the child is standing, there should be about a thumb's width (approximately 10-12 mm) between the longest toe and the end of the shoe.
Davies added: "It should fit comfortably around the heel, under the ankle bones, across the middle of the foot and the front of the foot. The fastening should be one a child can manage - this can be laces, Velcro, a buckle." She advised parents to look out for blisters, changes in skin colour such as redness or darkening, or changes in behaviour when wearing shoes, as children may not always report problems.
Check shoe fit every four months
Davies recommended that from age 4 onwards, parents check shoes for both fit and wear every 4 months. She explained that children are very active and can take twice as many steps as an adult in a day, so wear is common. If a shoe is excessively worn, it needs to be replaced. Common signs of wear include holes in the soles, soles worn unevenly, and fastenings that no longer function as intended.
