Plimsolls as school shoes

teddysmum

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

Perhaps the child's feet are growing fast, and the OP was unable to spend more than a low amount on something that'll only be worn for a couple of weeks and potentially grown out of by September.

Not the case, as she states that he will have to wear his trainers in wet weather, changing into his plimsolls at school.

izzy65

Agree that at eleven the adult should be making the decision as to what he wears, during the whole of my primary school attendance every child had to change out of outdoor shoes into plimsoles on entering the school, so as to keep the floors clean, cannot honestly say that it had an adverse effect on my feet:o

Tigsteroonie

teddysmum wrote: »

Not the case, as she states that he will have to wear his trainers in wet weather, changing into his plimsolls at school.

And we don't get wet weather in July?

Kim_kim

theoretica wrote: »

I find the arguments for the need for everyone to have arch support etc extremely unconvincing, and not just on the counter example of my own feet. Modern supportive, shock absorbing shoes are just that - modern. Evolution has had millenia to evolve feet to work by themselves.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/old-fashioned-plimsolls-with-flat-soles-are-better-for-kids-feet-8809800.html

I got to agree with this.
We are designed to walk barefoot with no sole at all.
I'm not agreeing plimsoles are a good idea as school shoes, just that I don't think that flat thin soles are that awful for feet to cause long term damage.

Mesj20

He will probably want to wear the plimsolls when he goes back in September Aswell

just_trying

missbiggles1 wrote: »

He'll wear what you buy him.

Well, can't say I would agree with this considering what kids are like now, if they don't like something they won't wear it and they'll sit there while they wear there old shoes no matter.

At £8.00 for 2 pairs you'll be lucky they last a couple of months, look out for deals on converse, vans etc they'll last longer. I bought my daughters last leather pair for £20 delivered from converse.

theoretica

Mesj20 wrote: »

He will probably want to wear the plimsolls when he goes back in September Aswell

You say he is 11 - does this mean he is changing school? A new school will probably have different rules.

Mesj20

theoretica wrote: »

You say he is 11 - does this mean he is changing school? A new school will probably have different rules.

No he's in year 7 going into year 8

kingfisherblue

Mesj20 wrote: »

He's worn black trainers as school shoes for the past 3 years he defiantly wodulnt go back to proper school shoes

Regardless of what footwear you buy, can I ask who is the parent here? Whilst it can be good to encourage independence and confidence, parents should also teach their children respect, and that the child does not make all the decisions.

jenniewb

theoretica wrote: »

I find the arguments for the need for everyone to have arch support etc extremely unconvincing, and not just on the counter example of my own feet. Modern supportive, shock absorbing shoes are just that - modern. Evolution has had millenia to evolve feet to work by themselves.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/old-fashioned-plimsolls-with-flat-soles-are-better-for-kids-feet-8809800.html

Thing is, articles on how feet never used to have arch support don't compare like with like. Wearing shoes which keep your feet flat are not the same as going barefoot, walking on not flat roads which allow your foot to bend AND gain strength, is just not a real comparison to make, there are too many differences.


If you want to read more about how barefoot footwear is a new growing trend (and there is a lot written about it out there) read up on how the footwear for barefoot training are very thin so your feet can feel the ground and not stamp down so hard, how the barefoot footwear is far more flexible so feet can react to the ground and bend and flex without being hemmed down to being flat, and how they all have deliberately wide toe boxes because toes are needed for balance and diffusing any impact when walking (or running) and how walking on pavements and roads are very different to walking on rocky mountains, sandy beaches and wide fields of plant life.


But unless the OP is wearing very thin soles, very flexible soles and is doing his walking over hills and rocky roads and through grassy patches, I doubt the plimsoles are going to offer much in the way of supporting healthy foot growth.


But I guess that's what physios are great for...