Your child spends 5 days a week at school, learning, getting active, building relationships and more. They can’t do this effectively without feeling comfortable and supported by the shoes on their feet.
Supportive school shoes must incorporate a number of features which provide protection and durability, without restricting movement or shaping unnatural walking patterns.
Why it matters that your kids have durable school shoes
It’s crucial that your kids have durable school shoes for a number of reasons. These include providing protection from outdoor terrains, longer lifespans, and a reduced risk of pain.
Playgrounds can include harsh concrete surfaces and sharp objects (such as gravel), which can lead to injuries on unprotected feet. Durable shoes are the best way to avoid this.
Equally, you need school shoes which can withstand the active day-to-day life of your child. Prenta Shoes use durable and breathable materials such as leather and patent leather to ensure a long and comfortable lifespan. Our new barefoot range will also be made with chrome-free leather; a more durable, sustainable and hypoallergenic alternative that retains quality.
Features of a supportive school shoe
A supportive school shoe should incorporate features which avoid placing too much emphasis on ‘structure’ and rigidity. They instead focus on allowing feet to breathe, develop natural movement patterns and gait and interact with the floor, all whilst providing an important layer of protection (such as barefoot school shoes):
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Flexibility - Shoes built from flexible materials are ideal, because they prevent feet from being moulded into unnatural shapes and patterns. This helps with balance, muscle strength and coordination.
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Wide toe boxes - Wide toe boxes facilitate natural splay, reducing the risk of issues such as deformities or walking problems further down the line. Check out our guide to barefoot shoes to learn more.
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Breathable materials - Given that school shoes are worn for long periods of time, many days a week, it’s important that they’re made from breathable materials such as leather, suede or patent leather.
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Thin, comfortable soles - Thin, even ‘zero drop’, soles improve postural alignment, support healthy growth and foot development.
What to look for when buying supportive school shoes
When buying supportive school shoes, you need to look for a mixture of features which provide health benefits, quality and style.
There’s no use buying a pair of school shoes which look great but don’t support your child’s growth and learning. Equally, you don’t want a pair which doesn’t look good and make your child feel confident in what they’re wearing.
Prenta shoes offer a range of different styles and fastening types, such as mary jane school shoes and t-bar school shoes, meaning there’s a healthy and supportive option for every child! 
Measuring and fitting tips for supportive school shoes
A comfortable fit is vital for supportive school shoes. Oversized shoes can lead to issues such as blisters, pain and even toe deformities. Equally, shoes which are too small can lead to ingrown toenails and other deformities too.
Following our size guide will help you to understand UK, EU and US shoe sizes.
Some other tips for measuring and fitting include:
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Allow for about a thumb’s width of space between the longest toe and the end of the shoe.
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Consider adjustable fastenings such as laces, buckles or rip-tape for adjustable and supportive fits.
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Feet often aren’t exactly the same size, so measure both and fit to the larger foot.
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Measure with your child standing up for accurate results.
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Measure feet easily at home using our strutfit app and print out measuring guide. Or, why not use our Happy Toe Zone guide? This removable insole features a built-in measuring guide, making it easy to check that your child has the right amount of growing room in their shoes.
