It’s that time of the year, the Summer School Holidays are coming to an end & you are entering the rush of trying to get everything sorted for your children. One of the most important back to school activities is picking the right pair of school shoes. If you think about it, your children will can be in these shoes 5 days a week or more for the rest of the year so it’s not a task you should take lightly!
That being said, even as a Podiatrist, I found the experience of shoe buying not as easy as I thought it would be. My daughter, Alannah, is starting Primary School this year, and like many parents out there, I (Kristy), Simon & Alannah headed to the shops to find the perfect pair of school shoes. What I quickly learnt is that where you go, and who you speak to, can have a huge affect on your shopping experience.


Unfortunately the first store we went to did not meet our expectations, even though they are well known for their school shoe range. The sales assistant did not seem to care about what we needed, was very regimented and stuck to their recommendation rather than listening to our needs. As a Podiatrist, I knew what we needed and I did not feel right about the advice we were given so I decided to try elsewhere. We went to another store where we had a much better experience. The staff were helpful & knowledgeable, and equipped with scanning tools and more to find the best fit and listened to our needs. So, if the ‘shoe doesn’t fit’ and you aren’t happy, please try somewhere else so you can get the best fit for your child as it is so important for their growing feet.
I now have more understanding that back to school shopping can be stressful. At Talaria we pride in treating you all like family and giving you the best advice for your and your child’s foot health. We aim to provide compassionate, personalized & high-quality care to all our patients, young and old. We don’t anyone to feel overwhelmed or put off by the school shoe shopping experience and are here to help!
If you are needing advice, guidance, suggestions or more, we are all happy to assess your child’s feet, find any potential issues or measure their correct fit, to help you make an informed decision for the right school shoes. If you have already purchased shoes but are unsure, we are happy to assess the fit, sizing, quality & capabilities of the shoe with our qualified Podiatry knowledge (it’s best to bring the shoes in with the tags so you can return them to the store if they aren’t right). Sometimes, an addition such as orthotics can be a simple addition to upgrade ordinary school shoes for the best support if your child has a particular issue. We can also assist with teaching kids (and parents) how to properly tie their laces, and other footwear keeping skills.
Our free kids assessments are available in the school holidays, and if your child hasn’t been to the clinic before, this could be a perfect way for you to get their feet/shoes assessed & feel better equipped for the school shoe buying experience. You can book online (make sure to select “free kids assessment” appointment type option) or call us on 9480 4935. We are also happy to give shoe fitting advice at any time so please call us if you have concerns!
We want everyone to have the best school shoes for them and for this to be an easy process.
After my first experience with buying school shoes, I thought it would also be a good idea to share some helpful tips to prepare you:
TIPS FOR BUYING SCHOOL SHOES
- Take your child’s school socks or stockings with you when trying on shoes to ensure a good fit. Taking socks they won’t be wearing at school will alter the fit/comfort.
- Make sure your child’s feet length & width have been measured properly, ideally one of our Podiatrists, or a properly trained assistant at the store. Unfortunately you cannot know the level of training or knowledge of shoe store workers, whereas our Podiatrists have proper qualifications. Measuring them yourself might sound simple, but leaves room for error and is actually harder than you think.
- Get your child to wiggle their toes in the shoes when trying them on. Check they can wiggle them freely, both up & down, and side to side.
- Kids are ever growing! It’s really important to have about 1cm (but no more!) of growing room between the end of their longest toe and the end of their shoe.
- You actually might need multiple pairs of school shoes, to make sure they have the right pair for the season & their school activities. They will want a breathable material such as leather for their school shoes, but may need extra breathable pair for the summer & a more waterproof pair for winter. Also consider if they are doing sports, they may need cotton or nylon sports shoes.
- Avoid elastic shoes & slip ons! It may seem like the easier choice to save a bit of time in the morning, but ensuring their shoes have laces, a buckle or velcro allows the shoes to be adjusted as your kid’s feet grow, and provide better support and comfort. We can assist with teaching you & your kids to tie their shoe laces properly as well.
I hope that by sharing my experience with school shoe buying, makes you feel a bit more comfortable. And that these tips help you feel a bit more prepared. My staff & I would love to see your children in our clinic. Seeing a Podiatrist can make a huge difference in ensuring you select the proper school shoes for your child.
You can book online or call 9480 4935 to discuss if an appointment is right for your child. Good luck with your school shoe shopping! Kristy xx

