CHILDRENS FOOTWEAR
acids, the list is endless. So, finding someone who can take the sting out of any of this is wonderful. Crowded shops and bored assistants, often Saturday girls, mean that you can sometimes leave the shoe shop still feeling guilty about the foot care of your children. You are often not sure that the advice and service given is correct, or if the assistant just wants to get you out of the shop so they can carry on with chatting to their mates. “Being the mum of very active five year old twins has always meant that getting shoes fitted can be something of a nightmare”, says Footwear Today reader Tania Kamburn. “Stampede in Tunbridge Wells was a totally eye opening experience. Firstly, all staff were trained by the Society of Shoe Fitters, which as Josephine Public, doesn't mean a great deal to me, but as soon as they start to deal with you, you know that they are interested in what they are doing. Secondly, the twins were spoken to and listened to individually and took an active part in choosing their new school shoes.” “After sizing each twin, they were given a selection of Petasil shoes to try. Twin one tried them all on happily and it was explained to me that Petasil shoes come in Continental sizes and up to 4 width fittings. I thought this meant that she could choose any shoe she liked, but when she chose the shoe she wanted it was explained to her that it wasn't the correct shape for her foot and she was told where it would rub her feet.
Shoe Fitting Heaven A
ll parents know that looking after their children's feet is so important, but the guilt placed on parents can be overwhelming. How much exercise they get, how much TV they watch, what they eat, whether that low sugar drink they love is safe for their teeth or full of fruit
If only the twins would listen to me like that. Straight away, she tried on another shoe from the Petasil range and carried on until the perfect fit was found. After walking around the shop, her new shoes got the thumbs up, one happy twin.” “Now twin two’s turn. They have always had the same footwear, which can make life difficult sometimes trying to work out whose shoe is whose in the rush out of the door to school. But, when twin two was told she may have to have a different style of shoe and the arms got folded defiantly, well, I thought that this wonderful experience was over and peace would be shattered. But, no. Immediately she was talked around calmly and cleverly by the shoe fitter and the correctly fitting shoes were found for her. Disaster averted.” With retail prices around £40 the pain in the pocket goes away too.”
“With so many shoe styles, sizes and width fittings to choose from in the Petasil back to school range, and the expert advice given in such a confident way, I know my children's feet are being cared for in the best possible way. One less thing for us parents to feel guilty about.”
Contact: Marrum & Co.
Tel: 01604 876800
sales@marrum.co.uk
Checklist for choosing the right children’s shoes:
• Avoid slip-on’s. Choose shoes with laces, straps or Velcro fastenings, which hold the shoe onto the foot. Beware the fashion for girl’s ballet style pumps, and ‘lazy boots’. Both lack adequate support and provide no shock absorption.
• Ask if the assistant is a qualified shoe fitter. Always have both feet measured for length and width. Shoes that are the wrong size can damage a growing foot.
• Trainers are designed and manufactured for sporting purposes and not everyday wear. Avoid the use of plimsolls in school all day, every day. Both trainers and plimsolls can create their own associated problems.
• Have your child’s feet measured in every shoe shop you visit but remember a gauge is only a guide and different styles, manufacturers, materials, country of origin, will all affect the fit of a shoe.
• Heel height should be no more than 4cm. Lower for younger children. The heel should have a broad base and be made from a shock-absorbing material.
• Natural material uppers such as leather are best. Check inside the shoe for seams or stitching that may cause irritation.
• The toe area of the shoe should be deep enough to allow the toes to move freely and not be squashed from the top or sides.
• The shoes should fit snugly around the heel to keep the foot from sliding forward into the toe box and restricting the toes.
• Do not be tempted to ‘hand shoes down’ - they take on the wear pattern of the original owner and can rub where they have become misshapen.
Source: The Society of Shoe Fitters
26 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
• SEPTEMBER 2010
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