School shoes are such an essential part of a child’s everyday wardrobe. Ensuring their shoes look good, fit properly, and can keep them comfortable helps ensure a great day at school.
Whether your child needs shoes for elementary, middle, or high school, when choosing the best school shoes, there are several factors to consider, including comfort, durability, style, and affordability. Kids can be rough on shoes, but better the shoes than their feet! And if they aren’t harsh on them, some kids grow at neck braking speeds, and constantly need good school shoes.
As parents, purchasing yet another pair of shoes for our children can often be daunting. You want supportive, durable, comfortable shoes that check off all the boxes – plus colors! With sooo many kids’ shoes available, deciding on the perfect pair can take time and effort. We offer some tips to assist in making this task much more manageable.
Leather or Synthetic Leather Shoes: These materials are sturdy, durable, and adequately support growing feet. The kind of materials used is a critical aspect to consider when you buy new shoes for your kids. For example, leather is a good shoe material; it’s durable and helps keep feet cool. Leather also alleviates common foot issues, such as smelly feet, blisters, and general foot discomfort.
Velcro or Slip-On Shoes: Younger children often find it easier to manage shoes with Velcro straps or a slip-on design. These styles promote independence and save time during busy school mornings or changing shoes for after-school activities.
Rubber-Soled Shoes: Choosing a shoe with full rubber sole gives kids much-needed durability and traction for running and playing on any surface. In addition, shoes with this type of sole wear well, extending the shoe’s life and maintaining its traction, keeping kids from slipping and sliding when running or walking, as opposed to a more lightweight sole that tends to lose traction more quickly. A rubber sole offers flexibility and shock absorption, which is vital for active kids who engage in outdoor activities and sports at playtime.
Lightweight and Flexible Shoes: Ensure the shoes are lightweight and flexible, allowing natural movement of the feet. Avoid stiff, rigid shoes that may restrict mobility and cause blisters and corns.
Arch Support and Cushioning: Look for shoes with adequate arch support and cushioning to provide comfort during long school days and physical activities. Kids’ shoes often undertake a lot of wear, so when purchasing shoes online, pay close attention to the interior of the shoes. The product description should list the interior shoe construction of soft materials. Be mindful that the lining material does not contain any protruding seams. Rough seams often result in blisters and cuts on little feet from constant rubbing while playing and running.
Proper Fit: It’s crucial to select shoes that fit correctly. We suggest measuring your child’s feet professionally to ensure they get a perfectly sized shoe or follow the manufacturer’s instructions for sizing your child’s feet. Remember to allow room for growth, but avoid overly loose or tight shoes.
Various methods can be used to find the right size: refer to your local shoe store to have a sales associate measure your child’s feet, use a slide ruler similar to what they use at a shoe store, or a traditional ruler and a piece of paper. When using the paper method, place a sheet of paper on the floor against a wall, and place your child’s foot on the paper with their heel touching the wall. Ensure they are standing up straight and balanced on both feet. Next, draw a line tracing each foot. Then measure the length of both of your child’s feet. Finally, measure the width of each foot outline parallel to the shorter edge of the paper. Measuring both feet is important; most people will have one foot that measures slightly longer than the other. These measurements will help in determining the correct shoe size you need. Referring to the individual shoe manufacturer’s sizing guide and comparing your measurements is a great way to ensure proper sizing.
Easy to Clean: Kids’ school shoes are bound to get dirty. Not just with the day-to-day dirt and dust but sometimes even a muddy puddle, so choosing shoes that are easy to clean is worthwhile. Also, consider materials that can be wiped or washed without losing shape or quality.
Meet schools dress code requirements: Schools often have specific requirements for school shoes, such as color and style, that coincide with the uniform designated by your child’s school.
We have some fantastic school shoe options for boys and girls that provide comfort, style, and durability. Here are some top picks for the best school shoes that meet and surpass all of these benchmarks:
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Timeless classic school shoe
Sperry Kid’s Colton PlushWave Loafer
The traditional stylings of a penny loafer will give kids a classic school look. This sleek handstitched leather moccasin features plush wave insoles technology and provides ultra-cushioned comfort throughout the day. The grip and traction of the non-marking rubber soles will keep kids safe on the move. The Sperry slip-on loafers are available in burgundy or black, making them the perfect shoes for school or casual outings.
Girls School Shoes
When searching for school shoes for girls, you want something practical and stylish. Your child will wear these shoes daily, so you also want to ensure shoes are comfortable and durable. So, we searched and brought you some lovely options suitable for any school uniform.
Skechers Microstrides-School Sweetheart Sneaker
This adorable girl’s black school shoe is a casual and comfortable shoe with an anti-slip rubber sole and velcro closure. These Mary Jane-style shoes have a durable, easy-care synthetic dura leather upper and delicate embossed stitching details that add style and fun.
DADAWEN Girls Dress Shoes Mary Jane
100% leather adjustable t-strap dress shoe is an excellent option for girls’ school shoes or shoes for a dressy occasion. The flexible rubber sole and soft, cushioned insole makes for a stylish and comfy choice. These school shoes for girls are an ideal match for any outfit since they are available in black, brown, and white.
Tobfis Girl’s Mary Jane Dress Shoe
This premium synthetic leather Mary Jane-style school shoe is designed with comfort in mind. Featuring a padded collar and yoga foam footbed for added daily comfort. A Hook loop velcro closure provides an easily adjustable fit, and a non-marking slip-resistant textured sole suitable for everyday wear makes this a fantastic uniform school shoe option.
JABASIC Mary Jane School Uniform Shoes
Another stylish mary jane school shoe that is lightweight and an attractive choice. A classic Oxford school shoe’s styling features a memory foam insole and hook and loop closure providing all-day comfort.
Boys School Shoes
Finding comfort and durability can be hard enough when searching for school shoes; then you factor in whether your child needs velcro or lace-up shoes. Then the search narrows. We have chosen a few options to help your search for the best school shoes for boys.
Hush Puppies Chad Uniform Oxford Shoe
Provide children with all-day comfort and support with these all-leather lace-up Oxford school shoes with memory foam insoles. In addition, these Oxford dress shoes for boys feature an antimicrobial that enhances the comfort and breathability of this classicly styled kids’ shoe. Perfect for school but a sophisticated look to wear to any party.
French Toast Oxford Shoes
Hook and loop velcro closures make this a fantastic shoe for kids of all ages. The sleek and clean design of these Boys French Toast shoes provides a classic look for school. In addition, these are versatile shoes for casual wear, special occasions, parties, weddings, and church. Finally, these shoes have a high-quality padded footbed and keep you comfortable all day, making these the perfect boy’s school shoe.
Kids’ School Sneakers (for school and general all-around use)
Whether kids need supportive, durable athletic shoes for playing sports or comfortable sneakers to compliment their school uniform and keep them on their feet all day, these are some of the go-to kids’ sneakers for comfort and durability.
New Balance Kid’s Dynasoft 545 Sneaker
The Dynasoft midsole cushioning of these New Balance 545 will give your growing kids plush comfort and support at play or school. These sneakers feature a hook and loop closure for little kids and a lace-up model. In addition, kids will love the colors and mixed textures throughout the design that create a fun element to their foot fashion.
ASICS Contend Running Shoe for Kids
This sneaker is designed with an upper mesh to increase airflow, keeping feet cool throughout activities. A strong rubber sole makes these shoes a shoo-in for durability. Kids have various color options that are great for boys and girls alike. ASICS kids’ shoes are available in a Grade School model with tie laces or a Preschool model with a look and Velcro closure. So if your kids love this shoe, they can grow with the same model over the years.
Merrell Kid’s Nova Sneaker
Merrell Kid’s Nova Sneaker is available in fun colors and patterns, and these sneakers are an excellent option for both BIG and little kids. This sneaker features a secure hook and loop closure with cord laces, keeping it snug on kids’ feet throughout any activity. These kids’ sneakers are made to last with a reinforced toe design that will increase durability, a breathable upper section, and an odor-reducing lining. We especially like the extra gripping outer sole to improve traction and keep kids playing safely.
Saucony Knivara 11 Sneaker
The Saucony Knivara is a school shoe designed for young athletes. With a firm rubber sole, this lightweight running shoe will have kids on the go all day. And it will help keep kids running comfortably with high-tech memory foam technology in the footbed.
Shoes descriptions and features are highly relevant for selecting the best kids’ shoes. Make sure the shoes you choose meet the school’s dress code guidelines. Also, remember to consider that individual preferences and foot characteristics may vary, so involving your child in the shoe-selection process is always a good idea.
We hope your journey into finding the best school shoes for kids is easier now that you have browsed our choices and that your child has an educational, active, comfortable, and excellent school year.
