Slippers for nursery and kindergarten. How do you choose the right ones?
Every mum of preschoolers knows what a nightmare it can be to buy slippers for kindergarten. Once you've dealt with the question of your child's tastes and managed to choose slippers that meet their stylistic requirements, it remains to choose the right size. This is . no small feat a challenge! Why? Very often happens one is assured by a child that the slippers are perfect, and after a while he changes his mind. He shouts out to the whole shopthat They are too small and the fingers hurt. More than once my daughters being tired and bored of picking out slippers claimed, That the slippers were great (even though they were 2 sizes too small) only because they wanted to get out of the shop as quickly as possible.
If we even manage to choose slippers that:
1⃣ like our child,
2⃣ are made of the right materials,
3⃣ are the right size,
this, the question remains:
Do these slippers support the healthy development of our children's feet?
There is no clear-cut answer to this question, but I know that most mums are not indifferent to what footwear their children spend most of the day in, so I will try to help you with this difficult choice. 👇
It often happensthat Parents buy their children shoes from great companies, nice and expensive. On the other hand, they buy the cheapest slippers and do not give much thought to their quality. This is a big mistake, because sometimes, that a child only wears shoes for an hour or two a day, and spends a large part of the day in nursery slippers. It is therefore worth spending more time choosing the right slippers for kindergarten.
What should we look for when choosing slippers?
🔹MATERIAL
should be made of natural materials so that the foot does not sweat and can breathe. Pay attention to the insole, as there are quite a few slippers that have nice leather insoles.
🔹LAKE
soft and flexible. So that the ligamentous and muscular apparatus of the feet can work and form the longitudinal and transverse arch of the feet. This is necessary in order to prevent flat feet from forming.
anti-slip. This will ensure the safety of toddlers in the nursery and kindergarten.
🔹SIZE
on length - The slippers must be perfectly matched. Various sources statethat The shoe should be between 0.5 and 1.5 cm bigger than the child's foot. In my opinion, it is ideal if the slipper is 1 centimetre larger than the child's foot.
on width - also is important. There are children who, having the same foot size in length, have to choose completely different slippers because of the width of the foot. Very narrow feet will "float" in wide slippers, and very wide feet will be bruised and compressed by narrow slippers. The instep of the foot should also be taken into account! Children with a high instep need slippers with a highly adjustable fastening.
🔹ZAPPING
perfectly is, if the shoe can be fastened in such a way as to stabilise the forefoot. The child will feel more stable if their foot does not 'fly' in the slipper. Velcro will be ideal as the child will be able to put the shoe on and take it off independently.
🔹ZAPPING
not can be too high and stiffso as not to restrict mobility in the ankle joint.
🔹 DESIGN 😉
every parent knowsthat a matter of national importance is whether the slippers have the appropriate decorations. Frozencats, butterflies, sequins for girls, boys Zigzag, McQueen, Psi Patrol or other masculine themes ;) Quite seriously, it is important that the slippers simply please the little one. Then he will certainly be happy to wear them.
What should we avoid when choosing slippers?
❌WRONG SIZE!
Slippers that are too tight will make your child curl their toes which can lead to abnormal development of the foot skeletal and muscular system. Remember that the feet of preschoolers are not yet fully formed. Slippers that are too big will cause the child to trip, snagging the tips of the shoes on the floor and falling over.
❌RIGID SOLE
If your child is not prescribed orthopaedic shoes by an orthopaedic surgeon, NEVER as a prophylactic measure, do not buy him slippers with a stiff sole and a rigid heel. Such footwear restricts the free work of the child's feet and excludes the work of the metatarsal muscles responsible for the formation of the arches of the foot. Playing on the floor is hindered and the child is uncomfortable,
❌SLIPPERY SOLE
Maybe make the child curl his fingers, to feel more stable or will start walk on tiptoe,
❌ARTIFICIAL MATERIALS
It is unhealthy for the skin of a child's feet to be in non-breathable footwear for hours, the foot sweats, slips in the slipper and corns form.
❌STIFF, ANKLE-HIGH HEEL COUNTER
❌SLIPPERS THAT THE CHILD DOES NOT LIKE
Well... what if the slippers are going to be perfect in terms of physiotherapyif our child criesthat is there a tiger on them and not a tiger? And a preschooler can be stubborn and obstinate so take this aspect into account too 😉 .
How do you choose the perfect shoe size for your child?
We can give up putting the index finger between the heel and the heel counter or pressing the toe on the top of the shoe to see if there is still room. On more than one occasion, my daughters would curl up their toes during such a "measurement" and it seemed to methat the slipper is good and after placing the foot on the insole of the shoe, it turned outthat half a finger sticks out behind the insole.
The surest way is:
1⃣ placing the child on a piece of paper,
2⃣ footprinting,
3⃣ measure the contour of the foot at the longest point and the length of the foot will come out,
4⃣ You add 1 cm to this result and this is the length of the slipper insole you have to buy.
☝️BUT . . . child must measure the slipper anyway, because in addition to the length of the foot, the height of the instep and the width of the child's foot are important.
❗NOTE ! If the child has different foot lengths (this happens) then 1 cm is always added to the measurement of the larger foot.
How often do I change my slippers?
Unfortunately, I do not know the answer to this question, but I will admit to youthat I happened to notice with great surprise in the kindergarten cloakroom that my daughter's slippers were horribly TOO SMALL. Time flies fast and children's feet grow VERY quickly. That is why I think that once a 3 months It is imperative to check that the slippers are not already too small. It is best to pull out the insole and put the child on it. Then you can be surethat measurement is accurate.
Which slipper company to choose?
I can't name one company that makes the perfect slippers because, as I mentioned, every foot is different.
I can tell you which companies I choose most often:
▪ Geox
▪ Emel
▪ Elefanten
▪ Mrugala
▪ Ecco
▪ Befado (choose those with a leather insole)
▪ Biomecanics
Which slippers to choose for the home?
Here the answer is easy 😉 NONE !
Absolutely no slippers will give your child as much freedom of movement and as much ground feel as bare feet. Sensory and biomechanical barefoot is definitely the best choice.
I wrote this text based on 14 years old experience in working with children and over 7 years old The experience of being a mum trying to choose the best possible footwear for her children. Unfortunately, a lot of experience, 5 years of study, numerous trainings, courses, conferences and discussions with orthopaedists have not made me walk into a shop and immediately know which slippers to choose. Choosing footwear for children is a difficult subject and every child and every foot is different. Nevertheless, it is worth trying, because feet are the foundation of our body and a healthy foot means correct posture.
If you are in doubt as to whether the slippers you have chosen are suitable for your child, make an appointment with a paediatric physiotherapist certified in Triple Plane Foot Therapy. He will be able to help you choose.
About the Author:
Anna Bernaś
▪ Physiotherapist children's,
▪Therapist NDT Bobath, Vojta i tri-fold foot therapy,
▪Sensory Integration diagnostician and therapist.
