THINKING SMALL: Making strides in children’s footwear | Lower Extremity Review Magazine

This article is an excellent snapshot of where we are today with children's footwear and shoe fitting. The frustrating part is that after 100 years, we still don't have a definitive guide for parents and caregivers of the right way to size and buy children's shoes. Instead of being far ahead of a century's worth of hard, damaging shoes, it seems we haven't really made enough of a leap in shoe design, but are now starting to understand the implications. Based on the studies highlighted in this article, we are doing much more damage to children's feet by not understanding the best environment for growing feet, damage that in many cases may be permanent.

It's something most parents don't give much thought to. Many (including me at times)We handle purchasing a pair of shoes as casually as buying a sweater or pair of pants for their child. 'We're driven by color, style, function. Or, rather, our children drive us to focus on these things and we forget the bigger picture, our responsibility as parents. But sweaters don't cause hammertoes, and pants won't lead to medical problems down the road.

I think the entire parenting community needs to be made aware of how important proper foot development is. I understand this on some level, but not once has it ever been mentioned in my children's well-visits with the pediatrician. That's where it needs to start. It is up to the medical community to educate us so that the footwear industry will respond with adequately supporting shoes and do away with fashion trends that are permanently damaging children's feet.

What do you think?


THINKING SMALL: Making strides in children’s footwear | Lower Extremity Review Magazine