Most children get excited about going back to school with a pair of new sneakers on their feet. Cost shouldn’t be the only consideration in choosing new athletic shoes for kids. Take care to find new sneakers that fit properly, while checking sales fliers and on-line stores for sale prices during the back-to-school shopping season.
Buy Sneakers that Fit for the New School Year
Children’s feet grow very fast, sometimes as much as two shoe sizes per year. Measure the child’s foot at the store each time new sneakers are purchased, even if they were just measured a few months before the back-to-school shopping season.
New sneakers should have room to grow, but not be too large. The Canadian Footwear website recommends that children’s shoes have a thumb’s width of space beyond the big toe to the end of the shoe. To ensure that the sneakers are the proper width, check to be sure the eyelets are parallel to each other and no more or less than one to two finger widths apart.
To get the best fit, try sneakers on with socks. Instruct the child to walk in the sneakers a bit and watch for sliding around the heels. If there is too much movement at the heel, the sneakers are likely to cause blisters.
Avoid Thrift Store Sneakers
Finding deals on back-to-school clothes at garage sales and second hand stores is a great way to save money. However, used children’s sneakers are no value. As reported in Buying Shoes for Toddlers on the WebMD site, children’s shoes mold to the wearer’s feet. A used pair of shoes already molded to someone else’s foot is not going to fit properly. At best, it will be uncomfortable, but it’s also likely to cause blisters or other foot problems.
Finding a Deal on New Children’s Sneakers
Even though thrift shopping is out, it is still possible to find a good price on kid’s sneakers in the back-to-school shopping season. Most department and sporting goods stores will have sales on children’s sneakers during the months before school starts. In addition to low sale prices, look for buy one/get one deals, especially when back-to-school shopping for more than one child.
Many on-line shoe companies offer deals on children’s sneakers for the back-to-school shopping season, but be sure to measure the child’s foot at a department store instead of guessing on the size. It’s also wise to buy from a store that has a good return policy should the new sneakers not fit and need to be exchanged.
To get back-to-school sneakers that parents and children will be happy with, buy new sneakers that fit properly. A bit of homework will help parents find affordable, quality children’s footwear during the back-to-school shopping season.
Sources:
- Canadian Footwear. Accessed July 31, 2009
- Hatfield, Heather, Buying Shoes for Toddlers, WebMD feature, accessed July 31, 2009
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