Preschool

Starting to grow

At around the age of two, children walk with a flat-footed stomp. Their hip joints will have rotated, so their feet and knees will now point forward. And they won’t need to use their arms to balance anymore – so they’ll be picking up anything that they can get their hands on!

At four years old they may still seem a little flat-footed, but they will be developing a heel-to-toe walking style. Their knees and ankles will flex naturally, making their movement smoother than before, though they’ll find changing speed or direction difficult. They’ll also be getting to grips with running and jumping.

Throughout this period, they need shoes which are flexible enough to let their movement develop naturally, but sturdy enough to protect them as they become more active.

Foot development

Between two and four years of age, the navicular bone will start to ossify and the ‘puppy fat’ around the bones will start to disappear. You’ll notice the foot taking on a more adult shape.

Surprisingly, the foot will have more bones in it at this stage than at any other time – 45 separate bone centres that will to grow together over the next 15 years of your child’s life.

If there’s no real arch development at this time, no problem. It’s perfectly natural at this age, so there’s no need to look for arch supports in shoes just yet.

Choosing shoes

What to look for:

• Very lightweight and flexible to help them as they learn how to move
• Textured soles which come up over the toe and the heel, to aid grip for propelling themselves
• 10mm growing room - enough to allow them to grow, but reducing the chance of them tripping as they learn to pull themselves up
• Smooth, seamless interiors that won’t rub feet
• Shaped for the natural toe shape
• Leather uppers and other soft, breathable materials to care for feet
• Easy, fully-adjustable fastenings to make them easier to put on and stay on
• Whole and half sizes and a choice of widths
• Carefully fitted by trained shoe fitters

Use the links below to discover how we can care for your family's growing feet:

Crawling
Cruising
Walking
Pre-school
School age and beyond
Finding the right shoes
Getting the best fit
Foot health for kids





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