What to Look for When Buying School Shoes

This post was written in partnership with George ASDA.

It may be a while before the new school year starts – after all, we have another seven months to go before September arrives, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to think about their school uniform until then.  Even Lara, who goes to a non-uniform school has had to have  complete new wardrobe of school clothes already since September because she just keeps on growing! One of the main items that you may have to invest in before the end of the school year is boy’s or girl’s school shoes – not only because the ones they have may be scuffed with the Velcro peeling off, but also because the pair they have may not fit them as well anymore - Lara is already on her second pair of school shoes this year!

When you’re buying school shoes, make sure you know what to look for. Whether you buy girl’s school shoes at George, or you opt for the more expensive high street brands, you will need to keep an eye out for a few features that can guarantee comfort and support for healthy feet.

Remember, when choosing a pair of school shoes, that children’s feet perspire, so the shoes need to be breathable to allow air to circulate. They will no doubt be running around the playground with their friends during every break time, so you can imagine how hot and sweaty they will get. Leather shoes will always be the most ideal for this, as would absorbent insoles.

Ensure that, when they are trying on new shoes, you can fit a finger between their heel and the back of the shoe, without the child squeezing their feet. If you can’t, they’re likely the wrong size. If possible, have their feet measured so that you have some inkling as to the size they are – you don’t have to go to specialist stores for this either. You can buy a foot measuring gauge to use at home or use an online printable guide, instead.  We reviewed one of these foot measurers last summer and now use it about once a month to check that our daughters' shoes are still the right size.

However, while the tools are available for you to be able to measure their feet at home nowadays, nothing can beat popping to the shop to have a trained fitter on hand to do the job for you – you don’t have to buy the shoes in store if you don’t want to. If possible, have your child’s feet measured once every 3 months; it’s amazing how much they can grow in that time without you even realising.

Once you know the size of the shoes you need, it’s up to you to choose a pair that will suit your child, and your budget, perfectly. Scuff-resistant shoes can look better, for longer, while shoes with a leather upper, such as these leatherbow detail shoes for £15 will allow for breathability. If your child is younger you may wish to stay away from laces (until they are confident to tie them themselves), instead opting for Velcro, or buckles.

Despite misconceptions, smart school shoes don’t have to cost a fortune. As long as you have comfort and support at the top of your list, your children will be running around in a pair of comfortable, stylish school shoes (that aren’t scuffed and off-black) in no time! 

Mothers Day Book Ideas for Children by Tiger Press

Tiger Press sent the girls two beautiful story books to review, both of which would make beautiful Mothers day gifts for a mum of a young child and they are a fitting celebration for Mothers day which is on the 31st of March 2014.

I Want My Mummy by Tracey Corderoy (illustrated by Elison Edgson) is an outrageously cute book abut a little mouse's first day away from his mummy. Grsny tried everything to cheer him up (even wearing an oh-so-cute dragon costume) but it takes a lot to cheer him up because all he really wants is his mummy.

The illustrations of the tiny mouse, Arthur, are really sweet and both of my girls were instantly drawn to the book for this reason. This book helps a toddler or preschooler understand that they don't need to be scared just because they are apart from their mummy - it would make a good book for reading at bedtime if your children were away from home for the night to try and cheer them up.

I Want My Mummy is available in both hardback and paperback. The story is a good length for a single bedtime story - not too short, not too long.

Mummy's Little Sunflowers is also pretty cute and tells the tale of two cheeky little mice who want to impress their mummy.  The story is written by Angela McAllister and is also illustrated by Alison Edgson.

The story tells the tale of Scurry and his little brother Scamp.  Scurry gets a sunflower seed from nursery that he hopes to plant and grow into a big flower for his mummy but his cheeky younger brother can't resist the tasty treat and eats the special seed.  Between the two siblings they go on an adventure to try and find a replacement sunflower seed.

I loved the little mouse Scamp - I particularly liked the fact that he calls the flowers "funflowers" as this reminds me of Holly right now.  In fact, the two mice remind me quite a lot of my girls and the way that they interact... Holly is the troublemaker but Lara will lead them off into things they probably shouldn't be doing.  I can also picture Holly trying to grow a whole sunflower in a matter of hours - she's not awfully patient.

Mummy's Little Sunflowers is available in hardback for around £10.99 and would make a lovely Mother's day themed gift to read with siblings.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Baby and Toddler Book Review

We are very much enjoying being reviewers for the 45th Anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.  Next month the celebrations over on the official website www.eric-carle.com and on Facebook will come to a climax with lots of fun events and activities.

This month my two girls have been reviewing Very Hungry Caterpillar activity books for babies and toddlers.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Touch and Feel Playbook is ABSOLUTELY perfect for Holly right now - this is her favourite kind of book.  It is a large hardback book with lots of colours, shapes and textures for her to explore on every page.  There are words about animals and weather and colours for us to share together and she really likes to sit down and explore each page in detail.  There are a few lift-the-flap surprises too.  It is a good sturdy book which is suitable for older babies, toddlers and preschoolers.  I love this book and at £8.99 I think it is great value and likely to become as much a family classic as our traditional Very Hungry Caterpillar story book.

This is The  Very Hungry Caterpillar's Little Book.  It is a small square board book which contains all of the coloured fruits that the caterpillar munches his way through during the week.  Through the middle there is a big hole and from the back of the book there is a red plush finger puppet which can act as the munching crunching caterpillar as he munches through the book.  Holly really likes finger puppet books and this has been a fun way of her learning the names and colours of the fruits as well as starting to talk about numbers together.  I'd recommend this little board book for babies from birth up to about 3 years old.  It costs £4.99.