How to Choose Your Children's Summer Shoes

Don't let the heat make your children's feet suffer! Choose carefully what footwear you will have on hand this coming summer.

Reviewed and approved by the teacher Samanta Ruiz.

Written by Samanta Ruiz

Last update: 27 December, 2022

Summer is coming and you have to buy new shoes for the kids but you don’t know how to choose the best shoes for your children for this season. Don’t worry! Below, we’ll give you all the information so you know exactly what to take into account when buying summer shoes to make sure your children’s feet are comfortable and healthy, despite the heat. Take note!

Summer shoes: What features should you look for?

Footwear has the function of protecting the feet from environmental factors and thus avoiding injuries. Therefore, when choosing your children’s summer s hoes, consider the following characteristics.

The manufacturing material

Footwear must be made of breathable fabric in all its parts: Body, insole, and interior. In the case of sneakers, it’s advisable to avoid synthetic material and prefer cotton or technical fabrics. Especially those designed to keep the skin dry and  free of moisture and bad odors.

Thermal comfort

The design and material must offer the child’s foot protection from the high summer temperatures, in order to avoid excessive sweating and injuries.

Non-slip soles

Summer is the time for swimming pools and the beach, so children are constantly stepping on wet ground. To avoid falls, slips, and unfortunate events, it’s best to look for shoes with a good grip on the floor. If the sole is also thick, it guarantees extra cushioning and greater comfort.

The flexibility of footwear

Flexibility ensures that walking effort is normal and that little ones develop stepping movements naturally, without forcing any structure of their feet.

Adjustable designs

Whether open or closed models, they have to fit snugly to the feet. This can be achieved with Velcro, laces, buckles, or any accessory you prefer.

Practicality

In the summer, children love to take off their shoes and go barefoot. Therefore, look for models that are easy to take off and put on again so that the little ones can manage freely.

The right size

Choosing the right size of footwear is essential for children’s feet to be comfortable and also to avoid chafing and blisters that can hurt the skin.

Children’s summer shoes that you can’t miss

Now that you know how to choose your children’s shoes for the summer, it’s your turn to know which are the most practical for hot days:

• Canvas footwear: This is ideal for its level of breathability and flexibility. With these shoes, little ones will never suffer from heat in their feet and will be able to walk, jump, and run with total security in their footsteps. They’re perfect to go for a walk, to an amusement park, or even to an informal event.
• Sneakers: If your child also plays sports in summer, it’s essential that they wear appropriate footwear according to the activity. Make sure that the fabric used is lighter than winter sneakers and that, even if it’s hot, they always wear socks that absorb perspiration.
• Sandals: Freshness is the main characteristic of this type of footwear with an open design that adjusts to children’s feet. There are leather and rubber models with buckle or hook-and-loop fasteners. Depending on the material used, children can wear them to an elegant party, to go to the beach, or for a stroll around town.
• Cloth flats: These are very fresh shoes made of natural fabrics, such as linen or leather. They bring a touch of elegance, so they’re great for celebrations.
• Water shoes: For the pool and the beach, this is the most practical and safe model, especially if you choose designs with zippers.

Choosing your children’s summer shoes every year!

It’s common with children’s shoes to make the mistake of using inherited shoes or trying to reuse them from one summer to the next. Needless to say, this is almost impossible, because the development of the feet is constant and the changes from one year to the next are radical.

According to an article published by the National Institute of Pediatrics of Mexico, the evolution is as follows:

Be prepared every summer with the right shoes for your child! This way, you’ll gain health and safety for these wonderful days of rest and enjoyment with your family.