This guide has been created by podiatrists and parents, to cut out the marketing, and remove the confusion regarding how to best choose a school shoe for your child.
Hi! We are Chloe-May and Travis,
Brisbane podiatrists with a clinic that
has a special interest in managing
injuries of the lower limb, and utilising
the strength of our own feet to
overcome pain and return to regular activity.
As parents to two young children,
allowing their feet to develop
naturally has been incredibly
important to us, and inspired us to
create this guide. We hope this helps
you to be fully informed of the
footwear options available for
natural foot development.
How to choose a school shoe
The key features we want to look for in a children’s shoe:
A THIN and FLAT sole to allow the foot to feel
the ground.
A LIGHTWEIGHT shoe to let the foot and
body move without restriction.
A FLEXIBLE sole so the foot can develop and move naturally.
WIDEST AT THE TOES to allow the
toes to spread during walking.
Why do we recommend natural footwear for children?
Children’s feet are soft and malleable when they are young, as their bones develop and grow. During this stage, is is perfectly normal for their feet to be quite flexible, and to have a low arch.
For this reason, we recommend minimalist style footwear for the vast majority of developing kids feet. A minimalist shoe is least likely to interfere with this foot development process.
In its simplest form, they primary goal of a shoe is to offer the foot protection from extreme heat/cold or potentially dangerous surfaces.
Another key thing that’s worth remembering is that our feet are perfectly designed to withstand forces and hold our body upright. Our feet have all the technology we need, so why not take advantage of that!
What shoes should I purchase?
The industry of minimalist shoes is ever expanding, and we are very lucky to have a growing group of companies here in Australia that offer minimalist shoe for kids.
We have highlighted some of the brands that we commonly recommend. These recommendations are companies that we have tried and tested their shoes in the past with our own children.
In addition to the businesses referenced in our guide, the following companies around Australia are also available to purchase some of these brands
Wildfire Sports and Trek
wildfiresports.com.au
bprimal
bprimal.com.au
Sole Mechanics
solemechanics.com.au
Barefoot shoes Australia
barefootshoesaustralia.com.au
Paperkrane
Paperkrane are an Australian company, who have a wide range of school friendly options.
Their school shoe range offers sizes from EU24, all the way up to EU45, which will get your child right through your schooling years.
Be sure to take a look at their other styles if you’re into a dash of colour in your life!
LEX Barefoot Shoes
LEX Barefoot Shoes are an Australian company that caters purely to children’s minimalist footwear.
Their current size range caters up to size 35EU, and the Bolt in Onyx Black is a fantastic, elastic lace style, perfect for school.
Vivobarefoot
Vivobarefoot offer a range of school shoe options, from sizes EU25 to EU34.
Their shoes are made from sustainable leather, in Mary Jane, lace and velcro options.
bprimal
bprimal are not only a main distributor of minimalist shoes in Australia, but they also have their own bprimal brand, with a range of kids school shoe options.
If you are local to Sydney, be sure to check our their physical store in Neutral Bay.
Tip Toey Joey
Tip Toey Joey are a company that originates from Brasil, and offer a range of quality shoes up to 7 years of age.
Ramp, Catch and Volt are their school shoes, with either velcro or elastic lace options.
What if I need more assistance?
As podiatrists, we often see children of all ages for a range of injuries or concerns.
Not sure if you need a consultation for your child?
We offer free 15 minute discovery calls, where we can chat via telehealth, to determine if you just need a bit of advice, or if its worthwhile completing an assessment.
Disclaimer
This advice is general in nature, and may not be suitable for every child. Although minimalist shoes will benefit the majority of children, there may be some cases where more support is required. If your child’s development has not followed a typical progression, then it is highly recommended that you seek professional advice for a more individualised approach.