NEED FOR CARE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4102, 18 February 1949, Page 7

NEED FOR CARE

CHILDREN’S FEET CHOICE OF SHOES PROPER FIT ESSENTIAL (By the Department of Health) As looks and personalities differ in children, so do their physical characteristics. Some feet are plump and short, others long and slender. Yet they’ve several characteristics in common. The inner side of each foot is longer than the outer, the four shorter toes slant away from the big toe and the heel is much narrowc- than the upper part of the foot. Take your baby to a goo.; c lass shoe shop and buy him some footwear that really fits his feet. As soon as a child has begun to toddle his shoes must be tried on not only while he’s sitting, but when he’s standing and walking. It is important to ensure that there is sufficient room inside the shoe for the necessary play of the toes and for the rapid growth of small feet. A vital point when buying shoes is to fit .both feet. In exceptional cases there may be a difference of a complete size between one foot and the other, in which case the shoes should be especially made for the child. . Worn either by a toddler or a schoolchild, shoes must be correct in length. A shoe too long may cause discomfort, but a shoe too short causes definite harm. In a new pair of shoes there should be about three-quarters of an inch to an inch betwqn the end of the longest toe and the end of the shoe. Remember how fast children grow. The width of the shoe is equally important. The inner side of the shoe should be perfectly straight from toe to heel and the shoe should taper toward the heel, giving plenty of width for toes to spread and yet providing a comfortable grip for the heel. The shoe should also hold the instep firmly to preserve the proper balance' of the foot.