At SoleFit, we see lots of parents asking about growing pains and looking for the best footwear for their children. Unfortunately, much of today’s children’s footwear is based on outdated dogma. Instead of providing rigid protection, we should promote healthier foot development by allowing the foot to develop naturally. There are certainly times to provide more support, but in most cases, shoes should mimic a child’s bare foot as closely as possible.
Children’s footwear today is made, fitted and sold by the same naïve rules as a half-century and more ago. –
Dr. William A. Rossi DPM
It can be difficult to know where to find these types of shoes mentioned in the video. The following brands make children’s footwear with more anatomically correct shapes, flexible soles, and minimal heel-to-toe drop:
As you’ll notice, these shoes can be quite expensive. As an alternative, search your local kids’ shoe stores and box stores for shoes that match the characteristics discussed in the video as closely as possible. There are good options once you know what to look for!
As always, we’d love to hear from you if you have any questions or comments.
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