DO SHOES MATTER?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21643, 13 May 1932, Page 13

DO SHOES MATTER?

(Contributed by the Home Science Extension Service.) Cold, frosty mornings and bleak, wet days call for “comfy,” strong shoes for the children, shoes which will keep out the cold and the damp. Note “strong” is not the only adjective we use, nor is it the one we put first. This matter of choosing shoes is a very important one. To send to the shop for “ a pair of black school shoes, size 2,” may be the easiest, but is certainly not the best way to order shoes. When we consider that children’s feet have to support the body all the rest of their lives, it 'pays to watch them carefully. If children’s shoes are carelessly selected, or incorrectly fitted, foottroubles will surely develop in later life; and not only that, but good posture and method of walking are affected by the kind of shoes selected. Shoes from the very first “ baby pair ’ should be long, and wide enough to allow the foot to move and to grow within them easily. The inner line of the shoe from the heel along the side of the foot to the big too should be straight. Look at a normal foot and see how straight that inner line of the foot is, and then you will realise how much a narrowpointed shoe cramps and bends the foot. The back of the shoe is the one place where it should fit the foot firmly and snugly. The heels themselves should, of course, be low, one-c.uarter to half an inch being high enough. The leather should be soft and the sole soft and flexible, though strong enough to keep out the wet and cold. In short, these are the points to remember when choosing children’s shoes: — 1. The shoe should be one inch longer than the foot spread out for walking. 2. Broad enough to let the toes spread. 3. Roomy enough for them to move up and down. 4. A straight inside line. 5. Soft leather and flexible sole. 6. Snug fit at back of shoe. 7. Low heel.