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Whether you have a little one starting Kindergarten or have been doing the school mum thing for quite a while, the world of school shoes can be overwhelming! So many questions… What brand? What style? When to buy them? What to look out for? How much to budget? Here’s some tips to take the stress out of school shoe shopping.

Plan Ahead

Our number one tip? GET. IN. EARLY!

We’re not here to remind you to pick up the pencils and paper (although if you needed a reminder, there you go!) We’re here to help guide you in purchasing your little one’s first ever school shoes. 

We know it’s tempting to buy shoes in the last week before kids go back, but the earlier you come in the more choice you have and the less frantic the store will be! Early to mid January is the perfect time to get your child’s school shoes.

Before Buying

While your kids are still growing it is really important that they are measured and fit each year. Every school shoe fits differently - not only do some styles come in different widths but different shapes fit feet differently too. Having a poor fitting school shoe can be detrimental to the growth of your kid’s feet. Remember, they’re wearing them every single day! 

Tick these off your list before popping in to see us!

• Check your uniform guide to see what type of school shoes and sports shoes your school requires.
• Pack socks to try on your school shoes with (if you have your school socks that would be best as different school socks vary in thickness).
• If you wear orthotics be sure to bring them with you.

*Because of the current limitations on the number of people in store, if possible only bring in the children that need fitted.

The sheer excitement of getting your first school shoes is a memory that your child will never forget. 

Your Child’s Cinderella Moment

The Shoe

For Kindergarten and Year 1 kids look for velcro so that your kids can get them on and off themselves. Not only will this speed things up in the mornings, but it will also help the teacher out if they come undone in the school playground. A style that is lightweight with quality leather and a sporty or flexible sole is great for the first few years of school as it’s more familiar to your child!

From Year 2 onward most kids have an idea about what shoe they want - lace up, velcro or mary-jane. Your experienced fitter will be able to guide you on which style in the shoe that they’ve chosen, suits your child the best.

The Fit

At Green’s we are all fully qualified fitters, and have fitted thousands of Shire locals with their first school shoes. When choosing a store to buy school shoes from, look for;

• Knowledgeable and experienced staff - A experienced fitter will fit your school shoes to allow for just enough growing room. Keep in mind that shoes that fit too big are just as bad as shoes that fit too small. An incorrectly fitted shoe will bend and stress in the wrong places, wearing it out faster.
• Discounts – Most stores will offer a discount on school shoes during January (this is very helpful straight after Christmas and just before sports registration starts)!
• A range of different brands – Different brands use different qualities of leather and come in different shapes and widths. Having a comparison means you can see which brand suits your child’s foot the best.

Did you know that school shoes come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and styles? You must get your child measured and fitted by an experienced professional. This is super important! Every school shoe fits differently - not only do some styles come in different widths but different shapes fit feet differently too. Having a poor fitting school shoe can be detrimental to the growth of your kid’s feet. Remember, they’re wearing them every single day!

The Budget

When considering your budget, remember that your child will be wearing these shoes all day, approximately 4 days a week, so it’s important not only for their foot health but for their comfort that you invest in a good quality pair of shoes. It can be confusing to know which shoes to purchase when there are school shoes in the marketplace ranging from $15 -$180. Speak to the retail assistant about the differences in quality, comfort and materials used as well as look at what brand fits your child’s foot shape best. Right now at Green’s Footwear, we are offering 20% off our entire back to school range. To get fitted, pop in today! If you have an older child and know their size, pop on our website and add to cart!

Aftercare

Here are a few simple tips to keep your shoes in good condition;

• School shoes should be sprayed with a protector spray before school starts and then once a month thereafter to ensure they stay in the best condition possible.
• Every school holiday:
• oDe-fluff the velcro
• oPolish the leather
• oAir out the insoles
• oRe-spray with scotch guard

Be realistic in your expectations from your children’s school shoes - they are active - climbing, running, kicking, crawling. Your school shoes will put up with a lot, but you may not get a full year out of your shoes depending on how they are worn and how they are looked after.

And… breathe! You are now equipped with all the information you need to enjoy buying your child’s first pair of school shoes. Heck, we’d even go as far as saying you’re ready to advise your girlfriends on what shoes their kids should wear!

We would love to see you pop into our store in Cronulla Mall and fit your child in our fun kids’ area. We’re open everyday! Hope to see you soon.