It’s that time of year once more when kids will be merrily trotting back to school.  One of the million and one things you most probably have on your to-do list is to buy your little one new school shoes.  Too bad, you’ll have to put off buying that  adorable cushion for chair you saw at the mall last week.  Buying school shoes for kids is not exactly a no-brainer, as there are some important things you have to consider.

When fitting your child’s feet, there should be a child’s thumb width between the end of the longest toe and the end of the shoe.  Your kid should be able to wiggle his toes inside the shoes.  There should be no bulges from the toes on both sides of the shoe.

The heel should feel snug but comfy, and the back part of the shoe must be strong.

Go for high quality shoes.  Although they may cost you a little bit more, in the long run, they will outlast a pair of shoes from a bargain store.  So, you wouldn’t have to buy another pair sometime within the schoolyear.

Buy shoes towards the end of the day.   You’ll get to fit shoes at the time that your kid’s feet are at their biggest, because feet tend to swell later in the day.

If your child complains of any kind of pain or discomfort, that means you have to get a different pair.  Ill-fitting shoes can lead to bigger problems later in life, so be sure to choose your kid’s footwear wisely.