Summertime and the shoes should be easy - easy for you and your girls! The shoes should be easy, but appropriate for growing, playing, active feet, and busy moms who need easy shoe maintenance.
The first consideration must be your budget. How many children will need shoes and how much can you spend? Remember to consider where you will buy them. "Good" shoes may be purchased at a different retailer than "play" shoes. The difference in prices may allow several "play" options, especially if they are on sale.
The second consideration is your girls' needs. Generations ago, children went barefoot all summer. Today, this is unhealthy. At least one "good" pair of sturdy shoes is necessary for summer, just as in winter. These shoes are necessary for church, social events, and to keep young feet in healthy shape. They should be worn several times a week. If bought so that the child can grow into them, they can probably last into the fall. As such, the shoes should probably be nice sandals with the toes covered as much as possible to avoid toe injuries. A neutral color such as tan will be easier to keep clean and will transition nicely into fall. Leather is the best material as it will breathe, will deter unhealthy conditions such as toe and foot fungus, and will allow expand naturally with the feet as the shoes are worn.
Spring shoes bought with these details and those described below in mind will probably last through the first months of summer, also. This can help with the budget and let you look for sales. Remember to buy Easter shoes for practicality rather than cute if budget is an issue.
When buying shoes, they must be at least one half size larger than your child's current size so the feet can grow, but no more than one size so the child will not trip over the extra length. Make sure she tries them on. You cannot "eyeball" shoe size and comfort. The shoe must bend throughout the sole and be totally flexible. Plastic or synthetic materials will make the feet sweat and the shoes will harbor unhealthy conditions. Check by touch and sight inspection for any rough seams, buckles, hardware, heels, edges or other items that may rub, be uncomfortable to your child, or be difficult to utilize. Do not rely on her opinion. She may be so excited about new shoes, she will not be able to tell you or may not feel the spots until after the shoes have been worn and can't be returned.
Have her walk the aisles (preferably carpeted and hard flooring) several times. Watch the shoes as she walks to make sure the shoes are not rubbing, moving on the heels, turning out or in, or creating other poor walking behaviors. Feel for the fit of the toes, heels, and arch. Inspect the edges and inspect her feet after removing the shoes for redness or rubbing. All this will help ensure you get the right pair of shoes for the summer (or anytime.)
A pair of canvas or leather "sneakers" is great as play shoes. They wash well, are easy to maintain, and give your girls the natural bounce to be active and play throughout the summer. If you get white canvas they can be bleached when dirty or as a great parent-child project, they can be decorated with fabric paint and glues from the craft store. Most leather sneakers can also be washed. Print or color canvas shoes are fun and washable, but should not be heavily bleached. The primary pair of "sneakers" should be structured shoes that provide good support to growing, active feet. A second pair can be less structured and be just for fun. Fun laces can be added or Velcro closures can make putting on shoes less of a hassle.
It is important that at least two pairs of shoes be available for daily wear. Each pair must be rotated daily to allow the materials to dry completely from sweat and to remain free of fungus, bacteria and other unhealthy conditions.
Here is a word of caution concerning flip-flops, thongs, crocs, and other "just for fun" shoes. These are exactly that - "just for fun". They should be worn for short time periods and should not be relied upon for long term wear. These shoes are hard on growing feet and provide no structure for the feet. They keep the feet open to injury. Crocs have been shown to be dangerous to children as they are slippery on the feet and can easily cause falls, imbalance, poor posture, poor foot structure, and poor walking behaviors. Crocs, thongs, and flip-flops cause the wearer to "shuffle" in order to keep the shoes on the feet. This behavior adds to poor posture, influences foot structure by not providing good structure to hold the bones and ligaments, and creates poor walking behavior. "Just for fun" shoes should be discarded after the summer.
When buying, inspect these shoes just like you do the "good" shoes. Many a flip-flop or thong has cut into the tender skin between the toes or created blisters and had to be thrown away. The post between the toes can be carefully scraped on both sides to narrow the post and may possibly remedy the situation. This does not always work, though. The thong over the top of the foot may also be scraped down on the inside, but it does not always work either. It is best to get the right fit when buying them.
A pair of plain flip-flops is good for poolside wear and for wearing into the common areas of community and hotel pools, water parks, water features, showers at camp, or other community areas where visitors may go barefoot. Daily cleaning and disinfecting the flip- flops help keep your children's feet healthy.
Keep shoes and summer fun and healthy. Just follow these guidelines and spring and summer shoes will be easy!