Shoes for Children

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 95, Issue 1, 15 July 1957, Page 91

Shoes for Children

By

MAUD B. STRAIN,

Field Officer in Rural Sociology, Department of Agriculture, Dunedin BADLY fitting shoes in childhood and adolescence are the foundation for foot troubles in later life. Because a child's foot is flexible, a badly fitting shoe can be worn without causing pain to the wearer, and once the feet are deformed the damage cannot be undone. A sensible adult whose feet have developed naturally through childhood and adolescence will not from choice wear a shoe that is too short, too narrow, or has too high a heel. If the feet are looked after carefully during the vulnerable period, adult feet will safeguard themselves by unrelenting protest against the pain and discomfort of badly fitting shoes. BUYING shoes for children is not easy, because a child may be attracted by a particular pair of shoes which he will want irrespective of whether they are the most suitable for him, or, perhaps, he may not be

patient to be out of the shop. In either case the choice of a suitable pair of shoes must be made by the mother with the help of the shop assistant. Most shops have a trained and experienced fitter and it is well to be guided by his advice. As much attention as is consistent with good fit should be paid to the

child’s wishes, because he will be much happier in shoes that he likes. When possible it is advisable to buy children’s shoes always at the same shop, as the child then becomes familiar with the surroundings and the assistants and will not be handicapped by fear or shyness. The assistant will bring forward only the type and style of shoe which he knows from past experience will be likely to suit, and the child is not so likely to set his mind on an entirely unsuitable shoe. The child will soon realise that when he goes into that shop he will get new shoes even if he does not have the first pair he tries on. The qualified fitter from his training and experience will often recognise the need for corrective or remedial foot treatment before the mother or child realises that anything is radically wrong. If he suggests it, medical advice should be sought without delay, because the sooner treatment is begun the more chance there will be of complete cure. FITTING Toddlers' Shoes Shoes (and socks) should be chosen with an understanding of the child’s foot as a basis. The feet of the infant and the toddler are usually cushioned in fat that brings the entire sole of the foot in direct and complete contact with the floor. Later this fat will disappear and the arches of the feet will form. In these early years the feet should be bare and unrestrained as much as possible and neither socks nor shoes should alter the inner lines of the

feet. Freedom of the big toes is most important in babyhood to insure sound foot health later. Shoes should have a flexible shank, the toe should be broad, and the inner line of the sole should be long and straight. It is usual to recommend that shoes extend at least Jin. to -fin. beyond the big toe. Shoes for the baby beginning to walk should have a firm sole and some support for the ankle. • Children's Shoes Children’s shoes require expert fitting to ensure that the natural shape of the foot is not in any way cramped or distorted. Sufficient length is the most important single requirement. When , shoes are new there should be fin. clear toe space inside each shoe between the tip of the longest toe and the end of the shoe. The foot should be measured whenever new shoes are bought and it is important to stand up and walk a few steps in . the shoes. A foot may be measured with little or no weight on it, but in walking and running the foot elongates by as much as a size. Freedom of movement of the foot within the shoe during activity is essential;

otherwise the toes may be distorted, the joints stiffened or enlarged, or the muscles weakened. Children’s feet grow rapidly, perhaps a full size m 6 grow rapidly, perhaps a full size m 6 to 12 months. , Before having shoes resoled make sure the shoes will normally be long enough for the whole duration of wear of the new sole; if they are likely to

be too short before the sole wears out, discard the shoes rather than risk distorting the child’s foot. Toe Shape All the toes should have complete freedom to move separately as well as together. They have an important part in all bodily activities where the feet are used and they can only . play this part successfully and be well shaped and strong muscularly if they are free to function naturally.. In the choice of shoes fit, not appearance, is of primary importance. Width Adequate width in shoes is essential. There should be no pressure on the

little toe or cramping of the foot in its widest part, which is from the big joint of the big toe to the end joint of the little toe. Shoes can be too roomy, when besides becoming unsightly with deep creases in the leather they are uncomfortable, and in winter they are colder than a snug-fitting shoe. Over the instep the shoes should hug the feet firmly, with an opening of little more than Jin. at the top of the lacing. Heel and Ankle Shoes should grip the foot lightly though firmly round the heel, because here and round the instep the foot is

held and prevented from sliding forward. The tops of the shoes should not be high enough to cut in below the ankle bones; there should be just sufficient,room to insert the tip of the finger between the ankle and the top edge of the shoe. There should be no movement of the heels in the shoes when the heels are raised, as any movement here will wear out socks and even cause blisters on the heels. After the shoes have been worn for some time the ankle may roll inward, throwing too much weight'on the inner side of the foot, which could cause flattening of the arch. This in turn could affect the way a child stands and walks. • A child should be able to stand and walk comfortably in new shoes. They may be stiff at first, but if any break-ing-in is needed, the shoe is not a good fit. Lace-up shoes are most suitable for general wear, because they provide support in all places where it is needed. However, sandals are suitable in warm weather and for beach wear, and light shoes and slippers for indoor wear. ; . Best Use from New Shoes The practice of keeping one pair of shoes for best wear is not advisable with children, as their feet grow so quickly that the shoes may be too small by the time they are taken for general wear. A better practice is to let a child wear his new shoes immediately but alternately with the older pair, since shoes last longer and keep their shape better if they are allowed to dry out thoroughly between wearings. If new shoes are worn at once, there is less chance of them

being too small before they are worn out. Children can easily have their feet mould-* ed into the wrong shape by short and badly fitting shoes or socks, because the bones of the feet are not fully hardened, until the age of 18 years or later. In a child’s foot the bones, have a large proportion of cartilage,, which is comparatively soft and compressible. This explains whychildren may not feel discomfort even though harm is being done to their feet by shoes they have outgrown. (The discomfort comes later with corns, calluses, bunions, hammer toes,, and other deformities.)

If the shoe shop has X-ray equipment, it should be used to check the width and length while the child is standing. However, other methods may be used; for example, the child stands on a piece of cardboard longer than his foot and a pencil mark is made on the cardboard at the end of the longest toe and another at the back of the heel. A strip of the cardboard about jin. wide is cut out of the full length between the two marks. This is inserted in the shoe, and when one end is pushed up to the toe the other end should be fin. to Jin. short of the back of the shoe. The inside line of the shoe should be straight along the inside edge right up to the big toe; then the greatest length will be at the big toe instead of at ' the third toe as happens in pointed shoes. The width, length, and height above the toes should be such that the toes can move naturally when the child is walking or standing. Heels should be flat; even teenagers’ walking shoes should have low heels. High heels force the foot forward into the toe of the shoe and produce the same effect as insufficient length. The weight that should be taken by the heel is thrown forward on to the ball of the foot and this tends to enlarge the toe joint. If at the same time the shoe has a pointed toe, the effect will be emphasised and will produce bunions in later life. High heels also cause posture defects, because they upset the natural balance of the body. In warm weather it is good for children to be barefooted on sand, grass, or anywhere where they are not likely to hurt their feet, but if a child is having foot treatment necessitating specially made or built-up shoes, he should wear them all the time. A child should not be expected to wear shoes handed down from an older brother or sister, because it is unlikely that the two children’s feet will be so similar that the one pair of shoes is a good fit for both children. CONSTRUCTION Research has been carried out on shoe construction, of which there are two main types, welt and stitch down. The latter method is used generally in sandals and the cheaper shoes. One disadvantage is that where the insole is glued rather than stitched in place considerable curl and deformation can occur if the soles get wet. In welt construction the insoles are sewn down and show better resistance to such deformation. The best leather soles have been found to be better than, any of the synthetics, since all the synthetics tend to spread or creep. Sometimes the creep is serious enough to break stitches and loosen the sole. The counter, the concealed stiffener at the back of the heel between the outer leather and the lining, is most frequently made of fibre board instead

of leather. This is no disadvantage; fibre board retains its shape excellently. CARE OF SHOES Very few children give even a passing thought to being careful with their shoes. Usually these are subjected to really hard wear and any care the shoes receive is given when they are off the feet. Wet shoes should be wiped with a damp cloth to remove mud and then dried at room temperature. They must not be dried by heat of any kind, because heat dries out oil from the leather and causes it to crack. Damp shoes should be stuffed with paper to help keep the shape and dried in a draughty place. When dry they should be cleaned with polish before being worn. Regular cleaning after each wearing helps to preserve the leather and prolong the life of the shoes. Any wear that calls for repairs will be noticed on shoes which are cleaned frequently before the shoes become badly worn. Toe caps and heel plates give a certain amount of protection to outdoor shoes, but these should be inspected regularly and renewed when they have

worn thin. Nasty cuts and. tears can result from jagged caps or plates. SHOES TO SUIT THE WEATHER Children need shoes to suit the weather: Stout leather shoes for winter with goloshes or gumboots for wet days and sandals for summer or indoor wear. Goloshes and gumboots are for outside wear only and should be removed in the house or classroom, as they do not allow perspiration to escape and thus keep feet colder than need be in winter. IMPORTANCE OF CORRECTLY SHAPED SOCKS Incorrectly fitting socks can do much permanent damage to the shape of children’s feet. If the socks are tight or too short, they exert gentle but steady pressure, particularly on the big toes. As the bones of young feet are still sufficiently flexible to give way to such steady pressure, a permanently deformed foot can easily result. Loose socks of the right shape can be as important as the best shoes obtainable in preventing later foot troubles.