by Katrina Norman

Created on: April 25, 2008   Last Updated: July 16, 2010

Choosing the right shoes for your girl for spring and summer can be tricky.  Do you go with practical, functional, fun, or flair?  Is your daughter active in sports? Does she like to wear a lot of dresses?  Is she going through a growth spurt?  These are just a few of the questions to consider when looking at new shoes for the season.

The most important thing to consider, regardless of the style, is the fit.  While at the shoe store, have your child's foot sized.  General rule of thumb dictates that you purchase shoes 1/2 size larger to allow room to grow.  Going a full size up can cause problems. 

Keep safety in mind while browsing the selection.  Children love to run, jump, and play.  You will want to choose a shoe that fits securely on her foot to minimize risks such as: having the shoe fall off while playing, twisting an ankle, tripping, or having rocks get in under her foot.  Does your child know how to securely tie a shoe? She may not notice or want to stop playing to go ask an adult to help her tie her shoe.  Decide if a buckle or Velcro shoe would better suit the needs of your child's foot.

For the girly girls who like to dress up and look pretty, try to find flat or low heal shoes.  Too high of a heal can be damaging to the development of your daughter's spine.  This type of shoe also runs the risk of twisting an ankle if her balance and coordination are off. 

When looking for footware for an athletic girl, pay attention to the support in provides.  A canvis tennis shoe will not be as practical as a sneaker if she is involved in a sport such as soccer or soft ball.  Again, determine if shoe laces or velcrow would best suit her needs.

There is such a wide range of colors and styles today, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the choices.  Before going to the store, sit down with your daughter and talk about what types of activities she would like to do over the summer.  Once you've determined which kinds of activities she will most likely be involving herself in you can make a better choice of shoe. 

If at all possible, try to purchase more than one pair of shoes.  Have a pair of sneakers for being active, a nice flat dress shoe for special occasions, and a pair of easy on easy off shoes for lazy days or going to the beach. 

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