Best Shoes with Arch Support for Kids: Do Kids’ Shoes Actually Provide Arch Support?
Last updated: August 2026 | By Juan Valenzuela, Certified Children’s Shoe Fitter
Quick Answer: Arch support is essential for kids with flat feet or overpronation — it distributes weight evenly, reduces strain, and improves balance. Most kids’ shoes don’t have a true built-in arch, but the right ones provide the same benefit through a supportive midsole, a firm heel counter, and a straight last. My top picks include the New Balance 990v6, the Memo Gabi/Alvin, and the Stride Rite Elliott, all reviewed below.
Arch support is vital for children with foot conditions such as flat feet. It helps distribute weight evenly across the feet, reduces strain, and improves balance. Many parents ask me, “Do kids’ shoes actually provide good arch support?” The honest answer is: it depends entirely on the brand and style. Below, I’ll walk through the shoes that genuinely help improve foot posture and gait, and prevent foot pain — even when they don’t have an arch you can feel by hand.
The Importance of Being Proactive
The first seven years of a child’s life are crucial — often called the “golden years of treatment opportunity.” During this window, permanent structural changes to the foot and lower extremity are relatively achievable with treatments like supportive shoes that provide real arch support.
Do Kids’ Shoes Actually Provide Arch Support?
Most children’s shoes don’t come with a built-in arch feature. But certain styles provide supportive outsoles, firm heel counters, and straight lasts that improve foot posture and walking gait, and minimize the impact a child’s feet take with every step.
Before and After: The Impact of Supportive Shoes
Supportive shoes can help realign a child’s body posture and strengthen the muscles all the way from the legs to the shoulders.
It’s remarkable what a difference the correct shoes can make.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Flat Feet?
If you slide your hand inside the shoes I recommend, you probably won’t feel a built-in arch — but there are three key features that consistently help support a child’s flat feet.
1. Supportive Structure. A supportive midsole provides stability and helps maintain proper foot alignment.
2. Firm Heel Counters. The heel counter is the back part of the shoe that stabilizes the foot, controlling excessive movement and keeping it in the correct position. This matters especially for children with flat feet, since it helps prevent overpronation — the foot rolling inward excessively.
3. Straight Lasts. A straight last helps guide the foot correctly, adding stability and support. This is especially important for kids with flat feet, since it prevents the shoe from encouraging unnatural foot movement. Most Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour shoes use a curved or semi-curved last instead.
Choosing the Best Arch Support Shoes for Kids
Again — you likely won’t feel a built-in arch inside these shoes, but the supportive outsoles, firm heel counters, and straight lasts do the real work of keeping your child’s feet supported and aligned. Disclosure: some links in this post may be affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
990v6 by New Balance
This is one of the best kids’ shoes with arch support. The robust outsole helps distribute weight evenly across the foot and reduces strain on the muscles and joints. The downside that many parents complain about is the high price tag.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Order with laces on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Velcro version also available on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Accommodates medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Firm heel counters, stable base of support, and semi-straight lasts
- Ideal for moderate to strong cases of pronation
- Removable insoles
- Sizing tip: Order a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Gabi and Alvin by Memo (Orthopedic Shoe)
These orthopedic shoes are specifically designed to improve foot posture and comfort. The higher price point is a common complaint parents have but the investment in orthopedic shoes is often justified by their specialized design and effectiveness in addressing flat feet.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Order the model Gabi or Alvin on Amazon
- Also available in a Mary Jane style and a version for older kids called Memo Polo
- Accommodates medium and wide feet
- Ideal for moderate to strong cases of pronation
- High-top design with stiff heel counters
- Sizing tip: Order a half size larger than your child’s current foot size. Refer to Memo sizing chart
Elliott by Stride Rite
These high-top booties by Stride Rite offer excellent support and a comfortable fit, making them a top choice for kids with foot conditions such as flat feet. This shoe is affordable and despite the limited color choices, the Elliott shoes are celebrated for their supportive qualities and comfortable fit.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers
- Order on Amazon
- Accommodates medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Ideal for mild to moderate cases of pronation
- 100% leather construction
- High-top design provides extra ankle support
- APMA Seal of Acceptance
- Sizing tip: Order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
574 by New Balance
This New Balance shoe combines style with functionality. It offers solid support and cushioning, making it suitable for kids with flat feet and overpronation. The shoe is offered at a lower price point.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Order on Amazon or the New Balance website
- Also available with laces on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Accommodates medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Ideal for mild to moderate cases of pronation
- Firm heel counters
- APMA Seal of Acceptance
- Sizing tip: Order a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Tracks by Timberland
The sturdy design ensures that children can enjoy outdoor activities without compromising on foot stability or comfort, but this style is slightly heavier than my other shoe recommendations.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Order on Amazon
- Accommodates medium or wide feet
- Ideal for mild to moderate cases of pronation
- High-top design for extra ankle support
- Water-friendly construction
- Sizing tip: Order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Cohesion by Saucony
These shoes are ideal for kids with flat feet or overpronation, as they offer excellent cushioning and stability. The affordable pricing also makes them accessible to a wide range of families.
Key Features
- Available for little and big kids
- Order on Amazon
- Also available with laces on Amazon
- Accommodates medium or wide feet
- Ideal for mild to moderate cases of pronation
- Firm heel counters and stable base of support
- Sizing tip: Order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Fresh Foam Arishi v4 by New Balance
This is a versatile shoe that provides a soft and comfortable fit while supporting your child’s flat feet. Families appreciate how this shoe is offered at a very reasonable price.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Order on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Also available with laces on Amazon or the New Balance website
- Accommodates medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Ideal for mild to moderate cases of pronation
- Semi-firm heel counters
- Sizing tip: Order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
2002/1906 by New Balance
The 2002 model by New Balance is another great option for kids with flat feet and overpronation at a more affordable price point than the 990v6. This is also one of the best arch support shoes for kids.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Order the 2002 or 1906 on the New Balance website
- Accommodates medium or wide feet
- Ideal for moderate to strong cases of pronation
- Firm heel counters, stable base of support, and semi-straight lasts
- Sizing tip: Order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Cross Em Up by Adidas
The Cross Em Up by Adidas is a basketball-inspired shoe that offers great support for kids with foot condtiions such as flat feet. The versatility of the shoe makes it suitable for both sports and everyday wear, adding value for parents looking for multi-functional footwear.
Key Features
- Available for little and big kids
- Order on Amazon
- Accommodates medium or wide feet
- Ideal for mild to moderate cases of pronation
- High-top design for additional ankle support
- Versatile — suitable for sports and everyday wear
- Sizing tip: Order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
GT-1000 by Asics
The GT-1000 by Asics is a popular choice for kids who require extra stability and support. This specific shoe is capable of fitting children with narrow feet.
Key Features
- Available for little and big kids
- Order on Amazon
- Accommodates narrow or medium feet
- Ideal for mild to moderate cases of pronation
- Firm heel counters, stable base of support, and semi-straight lasts
- Sizing tip: Order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
I’ve shown you a list of the best arch support shoes for kids with flat feet. Keep in mind that what works well for one child might not work as well for another — every foot is a little different.
How to Get Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
Ill-fitting shoes can lead to blisters, calluses, and even long-term foot issues. Shoes that are too tight restrict movement and cause pain; shoes that are too loose cause instability and falls. My free virtual shoe fitting service helps you measure your child’s feet accurately at home — especially useful when ordering shoes online.
Pay Attention to Wear Patterns
Check the wear patterns on your child’s shoes regularly. Uneven wear can indicate improper fit or a lack of support, and often signals it’s time for a different shoe style or size.
Orthotics for Arch Support: Extra Support and Stability
Families should generally try a pair of supportive shoes before investing in orthotics. But in some cases, foot pain is intense enough that supportive shoes alone can’t reduce or eliminate it, and orthotics become necessary. Orthotics help a child walk and run straighter by aligning the feet and legs and reducing stress on the feet.
An orthotic is essentially a shoe insert built to provide cushioning, support, and stability, and to relieve pressure at specific points on the foot. The orthotics I recommend offer excellent arch and heel support while remaining less invasive than some other options — letting a child’s foot and leg muscles keep developing on their own while still being supported.
Why Are Good Arch Support Shoes So Hard to Find?
The U.S. market is flooded with inexpensive, mass-produced shoes, which makes it genuinely harder to find styles built with real support. In parts of Europe, children’s shoes are treated as a health product rather than a fashion item, held to stricter manufacturing standards — one reason many European parents report fewer foot problems in their kids over time. That doesn’t mean every well-made shoe has to come from Europe, but it’s part of why finding real support in the U.S. market takes more digging than it should.
Looking for Personalized Shoe Recommendations?
Every child’s foot is unique, so it’s worth getting recommendations based on your child’s specific foot shape and condition. If you have questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out by email.
Have you found a specific pair of arch support shoes that worked well for your child? I’d love to hear about it — and if you have questions or need personalized recommendations, let’s work together to support your child’s healthy foot development.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below come directly from parents in the comments on this article — I’ve grouped the ones that come up most often.
This is one of the most common questions I get. If your child has wide or extra wide feet, I generally recommend New Balance, since they offer the widest range of true wide and extra wide options. If your child has narrow or medium width feet, Asics is usually my go-to, since they’re some of the most supportive shoes available in those narrower widths.
In my experience, no — rain boots are only meant to be worn for short periods and don’t provide meaningful arch or heel support. If your child needs supportive footwear for wet conditions or farm/outdoor life, a supportive hiking boot with a substantial sole and firm heel counter is a better option than a rain boot.
Yes. Orthotics only work as well as the shoe they’re placed inside. An insert on its own, worn in an unsupportive sneaker, won’t provide the full benefit it’s designed for — the shoe and the orthotic need to work together.
Yes, though fit gets more specific at that stage. If your child’s feet fall into men’s or women’s sizing, reach out to me directly with the exact length and width, and I can point you to styles that will actually be available in that size range, since not every kids’ style extends that far.
Hello Juan,
I hope you can help me, my son is 9 years old and has 10.3 inch feet, i think he has flat feet and wide feet. I am having to look at men’s sizes.
I just can not find the right trainer, he loves playing around and his favourite sport is tennis. Could you recommend a trainer. I find it frustrating that I can not just go into a shop and try the trainer. it’s all online. Please help my son find the right trainer.
Hello Nina,
Are you contacting me from the United States or a different country?
Great article! Do you have a recommendation on a great arch support running shoe for my son. He is 9 and wears Size 6.5. He just started running with me and needs a supportive shoe. Thanks!
Hi Kristina,
Yes, I do. However, before I can send you specific shoe recommendations I need to know whether your son has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also need to know whether your son has a high instep or not. If you are unsure your son’s foot shape I suggest that you take a look at the article below:
How to Measure Your Kids Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Hi Juan
Man I can’t even begin to tell you how much time I have wasted trying to find a pair of good supportive shoes for my son. I tried the style you recommend made by New Balance and my son stopped complaining about foot and leg pain. Our pediatrician told me that is exactly the shoes he needed. I wanted to reach out to say thank you.
Hi Jay,
I am glad the shoes worked out for your son’s feet. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions.
Juan you won’t believe how many shoe stores we had to visit and none of them were able to recommend shoes with good arch support. My daughter always complains about foot and leg pain and our PT recommended that she wears supportive shoes. I found you through Google and I am glad I did as you provide a great deal of information I couldn’t find anywhere else. Thank you.
You are welcome. I hope the foot and leg pain stops. Keep me posted!
Hello Juan,
Thank you for putting together this awesome post!
My daughter has flat feet, and I got some great tips just now on how to shop for shoes that can provide proper arch support.
You seem to favor New Balance quite a bit. Are there any other brands you might recommend? My daughter is 7 going on 8.
Excited to hear your reply,
Michael
Hi Michael,
New Balance manufactures certain shoe styles that have proven to be the most effective ones for children with flat feet. However, Asics is another of my go-to shoe brands for children with flat feet.
The type of shoe brand I recommend depends on the child’s foot shape. If a child has flat feet and a wide or extra wide foot I usually go with New Balance. If the child has a narrow or medium width foot then I recommend Asics.
I hope this helps.
What would be your recommendation for pigeon toed kids? Since my daughter was little the pediatricians said her hips will naturally turn out and that my she doesn’t need special shoes, but she’s 8 now, and still pigeon toed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hi Amy,
I always recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their children foot conditions.
The type of shoes that you want to provide your daughter with should come with a substantial sole and a firm heel counter.You can find specific shoe recommendations in another article I wrote called: Pigeon Toe Treatment – The Proven Method To Stop Pigeon Toe In Kids
If you want me to check whether your daughter can also benefit from wearing an orthotic, you can send me pictures of your daughters’ feet, so I can get a better idea of how flat her feet are: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Thank you and yes she would be open to that but I forgot to mention that she wears a uniform and her shoes need to be school uniform approved. I will look for a boat shoe that we might get lucky with but if all else fails she will wear the Mary Jane’s. I did find the Geox Agata Girls Shoe here, what are your thoughts?
Geox Agata
I really appreciate you getting back to me and your advice. As of yesterday, I have learned so much after finding your articles!
Hello Kam,
Geox makes some of most supportive shoes for children. It seems like this loafer is well built, but try to limit the wear to no more than 5 hours a day.
This was such an informative post! My daughter is 10 going into 6th grade she has been wearing the Mary Jane’s that you suggested every year since starting school but as she is getting older she wants to wear something without a strap, like her friends. My concern is her health but I do sympathize with her concerns. She will of course wear what is best for her and I will not give anything less but I am just wondering if there is a shoe that can comply with her desire to wear a ballerina or loafer type shoe/flat.
Hello Kam,
The issue with flats and loafers is that they don’t provide any support whatsoever. If this is the type of shoe that she wants, then you can choose any style that she likes since there are no ballet flats that are more supportive than others.
Would she be open to trying a Sperry boat shoe? This type of shoe provides better support and looks stylish at the same time. This is how they look like:
Sperry Shoe for Girls
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
My daughter had been complaining of leg pain for years but I just realized recently she is flat footed. I def don’t think she has been wearing the best shoes. She plays lots of sports but Is a slow runner. She constantly complains of pain in her legs and heals. I brought her to an orthopedic and have gotten her inserts but u still believe she needs good sneakers! She is 10 years old ,115lbs and 4”9’. Short and muscular..
Hi Silvia,
You are 100% right. The inserts won’t do any good if your daughter is not wearing a pair of good supportive sneakers. I need to know whether your daughter has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet in order to send you specific shoe recommendations.
This is great for shoes…but what about rainboots/muckboots/waterproof boots? I have a child with flat feet but we live on a farm and live in rainboots 8 months of the year but have yet to find any brands locally that have any arch support at all (size 13t or 1 big kids) Are there such a thing as a half decent supportive boot? Not sure insoles will work either since boots are always so flat on top of the toes….
Hello Kat,
Rainbows don’t provide any support, since they are only meant to be worn for very short periods of time. There are certain hiking boots that are good for children with flat feet since they come with a substantial sole and a firm heel counter. Do you need them for a boy or a girl? Do you know if your child’s feet are narrow, medium, wide or extra wide?
Once you get back at me with that information I can provide you with a selection of supportive hiking boots.
What a great article! It seems that the recommended shoes are primarily athletic in nature. My 14-year-old son has a pair of athletic shoes that, along with some custom orthotics, work fairly well for most things. However, he is starting at a private high school, and they require leather shoes. Can you recommend a good black/brown leather shoe that will provide adequate foot/ankle support?
Hello Donny,
I am glad that you find the article informative. I actually describe the most supportive leather dress shoes for boys in an article called:
Black Dress Shoes for Boys – The Most Supportive and Versatile Styles!
Will you be fitting the orthotic inside the school shoes? Is your boy in men’s shoe sizes? If the shoes described in that article don’t come in his shoe size please get back at me and I will provide you with other recommendations.
I hope this helps!
I am so happy I came across this post. Iam looking for a pair of supportive shoes for my eight year old grandson; our family doctor just told us that his physical that he is going flat footed and to get him shoes with arch support. His feet are somewhat wide. He plays baseball and is very active. Any suggestions?
Hello Donna,
There are a couple of questions I have before I can recommend a particular shoe style for your grandson. Is he experiencing foot or leg pain? Do you need a pair of everyday shoes or a pair of baseball shoes? Do you know what shoe size your grandson wears?
Thank you.
Sir my son is 3 years old he is having pain due to flat foot I checked to one of the doctor he has told me that it is flat foot please tell me which shoes I will purchase so that he can walk easily because which while walking after five minutes he used to sit because his foot is paining sir please help me I will be be very grateful to you.
Hello Ayushi,
First I would like to know two things. What is your son’s shoe size (I need the length and width), and I also would like to know if the doctor recommended orthotics. Once you get back at me with those answers I will be able to help you.
My son has knock knee and complains to pain a lot. What shoes would u recommend new balance or asics
Hello Brittany,
It depends on the shape of his feet. If he has wide or extra wide feet, I would recommend New Balance ( since Asics doesn’t make shoes in those widths). If he has a narrow to a medium width foot I will advise you to go for Asics, since they are some of the most supportive kids shoes. I hope this clarifies.
Do you have a physical therapist in your area you can take him too? Here you can find a selection of some of the most supportive Asics shoes: Asics Shoes For Kids
If your child has wide or extra wide feet, you should look into these type of shoes: Wide Shoes For Boys – The Best Shoe Style For Boys With Wide Or Extra Wide Feet!
If you try a pair of good supportive sneakers and he is still having pain, you should strongly consider providing your child with an orthotic.
Hi, My 3 year old girl has complained about foot and knee pain for a while. She was diagnosed with flat feet. I need to get her “indoor shoes” for her Montessori. I don’t know where to even start. The other moms have said Natives, Tom’s or See Kai Run but I don’t know if these are appropriate for flat feet. Any recommendations will be appreciated
Hello Rich,
When you say that your child needs “indoor shoes”, are these “indoor shoes” for school? The recommendations parents made to you are good, but not for a child that has flat feet. There are other type of indoor shoes that will provide your child with more arch support. I wrote a post where I describe the best indoor shoes for kids and you can find it here:
Indoor Shoes for Kids – The Best Indoor School Shoes for Children!
Thank you for this. It has been a struggle to find good sneakers for my son. He has a wide foot and the selection at stores is terrible. Ever since Stride Rite closed it’s retail stores there aren’t any specialty kids shoe stores. All we are left with is Footlocker and other crappy mall retail stores. We also tried Road Runners a running/sports specialty store. The choices for kids was pretty small. I did order a pair of Stride Rite from Amazon because school starts in a week and did not want him not to have any new shoes. Luckily I did find out that there is a New Balance retail store about 30 min away, so we are going to check them out this week. I really wish there was more out there for kids in terms of good quality shoes.
Hello Lorena,
You are not alone! Several parents struggle finding a local children’s shoe store these days. I have to say that while Stride Rite was better than Footlocker and Nordstrom’s, they still did a bad job when it came to measuring and fitting children shoes. Hopefully that New Balance store will have good shoe fitters that will be able to help your son! In the meantime, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any doubts or questions about your kids’ shoes.
She is also knock knee as well
Shynese,
I am not familiar with the shoe brand “Kangrools”, but please avoid purchasing your daughter’s shoes (especially since she wears orthotics) at places such as Payless. They offer shoes at great prices but they are poorly made and offer no support. It’s always better to take her to your local kids’ shoe store if you have one in your area to be properly fitted for shoes.
There are three important features you must look for when purchasing her shoes:
· Arch support
· Ankle support
· Depth (The deeper the shoe the better, since that way the orthotics will fit deep inside the shoe and not raise her feet up).
It is important to have the shoe fitter properly if you want to get all the benefits the shoe has to offer, so when you tell me she wears a shoe size 4, is this a shoe size 4 medium, wide, or extra wide? I am assuming that since she wears an orthotic she will need a wider width shoe, but please clarify this.
Are you going to be using the same type of orthotic that the sport medicine doctor recommended back then? There is an insole I recommend for kids that are experiencing foot and leg pain, but her issues tell me that she might need a more substantial orthotic (you can always try this one and see if the pain goes away, if it doesn’t you should definitely look for a more substantial orthotic but it’s hard for me to recommend one without looking at her feet). Here you can find a post where I describe this insert:
Insoles for Flat Feet – Say Goodbye to Foot Pain
If the Superfeeet insole is not supportive enough, go to this website below and try the HotDog one.
https://cascadedafo.com/products/fast-fit
I can definitely recommend you the best fitting sneakers for orthotics and please find them below (they have shoe laces which offer more support and more stability, but if you feel like your daughter needs Velcro please get back at me and I will offer some other alternatives:
1st choice: Supportive Shoe Style for Girls
2nd choice: Supportive Shoe Style for Girls
3rd choice: Supportive Shoe Style for Girls
I hope this helps and clarifies, and please get back at me anytime you have any other questions!
Hello… I have a question.My daughter has flat feet and complains of ankle, foot and back pain. I took her to see a sports medicine doctor who was recommended by her Pediatrician. He custom made her a insole when she was a size 3 but she could only wear it in the sneaker he use (Kangrools) which I purchased from Payless. It helped some but not much. Her foot has since grown at 8 years old, she now wears a size 4 and her foot is still growing. She complains about foot/ankle pain when she is running around at school or on the playground at the park. I looked at the sneakers you had posted but they didn’t have them in her size. Could you possibly recommend a good fitting shoe/sneaker for her along with the best insole with a arch for her age group. She is flat foot, has ankle,foot and back pain. Thanks for any advice in advance!:-)
Yeah! Definitely Juan Pablo Valenzuela, we must choose our kids shoes wisely.
I completely agree with you! If Children wearing the right type of shoe will definitely perform better. Each & Every tip is very beneficial with respect to leg and foot pain. Keep sharing!
Hello Bencarol,
I can’t imagine myself walking or running in the WRONG pair of shoes. It will make me not only uncomfortable, but unstable as well. We must choose our kids’ shoes wisely!
Hi Mariam,
After reading your suggestions, I got my son a pair of asics noosa ff sneaker, he loves it! Does all asics shoes carry cushioned arch support since I would like to get him another pair with a different style. Can you please suggest? Thanks so much !
Sorry, Juan, I typo your name on my comment.. can you please help suggest? Thanks so much !
Hello Ivy,
Most Asics shoe styles are supportive. I only describe the ones I have fitted before. One style similar to the Noosa is called the Pre-Contend. You can find it here:
Supportive Asics Shoes for Boys: Option 1
Supportive Asics Shoes for Boys: Option 2
I hope this helps!
Hi,
Can you suggest any for girls? My daughter is 12.
Hello Mireya,
I am assuming that she knows how to tie her shoes. If she doesn’t, then this will be a good time to learn since shoelaces provide better support and stability than Velcro closure. Here are my recommendations:
Shoe with Substantial Outsole: Option 1
Shoe with Substantial Outsole: Option 2
I hope this helps.
by any chance do you know about shoes, not sneakers, for a girl that will have arch support?
We can not bring them every time her feet grow from Mexico, and I do not want sneakers on her all the time.
she has a high instep, foot pointing outward and always complains about how narrow are the sneakers and shoes on her toes or that they are too tight.
With the Mexican shoes she never complains. Help me please!!
Hello Susy,
Are you looking for a dress shoes or a casual shoes for you daughter?
If you are looking for a casual shoe that she can also wear to school there is a mary jane style that has a firm heel counter and good structure that provides excellent support. You can even remove the inner sole and fit an orthotic for extra arch support. The shoe is also available in different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide. It seems like your daughter has a wide foot since she is always complaining about the shoes feeling too tight. You can find that shoe here:
Mary Jane Shoe with Support for Girls
Here you can find a shoe your daughter might find more appealing which also provides good support, but it’s not available in different widths. You can find that shoe here:
Mary Jane Shoe with Support
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have further questions.
Hi!
Thank you so much for your reply. In fact all Stride Rite do not have arch support, I just bought 2 sandas and was asking about the wides and they assure me that non of their shoes have arch support ir padded arch insole.. The insole is flat, completely flat.
She was wearing all spring the same model (but Clarks not Stride Rite) and she doesn’t have enough support on the heel neither arch support.
I was thinking more of a T-bar buckle shoe like Kickers or Dr Martens. But Dr Martens has the straps way too short and it doesn’t fit high instep (we just return from the store and we couldn’t close them) and kickers are way too expensive too guess the size and width.
The shoes that she was wearing until last year were Mexican with padded arch support in the insole.
Do you know any shoe that has the padded arch support in the insole? We just need shoes, not sneakers, for everyday use.
Wish I can send you pics of what we have so you can have a better idea of what I’m describing.
All Europpean and Mexican shoes (well Latin American shoes) have padded arch support in the insole.
Hello Susy,
I understand your concern. There is a shoe brand called Beeko that we carry at the shoe store that I work for that comes with a padded arch support (I am just not sure if it will fit your daughter’s wide feet though). However, for our children who need extra support in their shoes (not sneakers), we tend to insert what we call a “cookie”.
You can learn more about how these arch support “cookies” work in this article: Arch Support for Kids – The Solution to Your Kids Foot Pain!
You will have to go to your local children‘s shoe store to have this done by a person who knows how to do it.
I hope this helps!
Try European Shoes with good Ankle Support and Arches (arches are added to the soles now in all European Shoes) They are the best foot forming shoes that you can buy. We in Europe never ever buy cheap shoes from China as they destroy and deform kids feet and posture. There is no single brand in USA that is any good and orthopedic. Only shoes made in Europe are since they are regulated there by Ministry of Health. We have shoes for every type of foot – wide narrow, medium ,high instep. If child is pronated, pigeon toed – you can only correct that with shoes made in Europe. The shoes you suggesting here do absolutely nothing positive to kids feet – they only deform and destroy kids feet further.
Hello Kinga,
Thank you for your feedback. I agree that some children’s shoes made in Europe provide excellent features. However, I disagree that the shoes I recommend don’t help children with foot issues or foot conditions. Several children have improved their foot posture and walking gait by wearing the shoes I recommend in the correct size. These shoes have also helped several children who were dealing with foot and leg pain by significantly reducing, and in some cases fully eliminating their pain.
Until I read your article I didn’t realize that there were so many issues that little feet could experience. I have 2 young grandsons and any time I or their mother buy shoes for them we just look for the cutest ones or let the boys pick them out themselves. Thank you for this most informative look at what shoes little ones should be wearing.
Jen,
It is important to always choose the most supportive, best fitting shoes for our children to promote healthy foot development. It is also nice to give them options of shoes to choose from! Let me know anytime you might have an specific question!
I agree with you that it is important that children’s shoes have good arch support. As an adult I can relate to that, therefore I believe that children should be treated the same way.
It was interesting to read that in the United Kingdom shoes are regarded as a health product. It would be good if that same policy was adopted in the United States, then there would be less people with foot problems.
Hello Judy,
Children impose an enormous amount of stress to their feet and legs! Some of them put more stress in their feet than an adult does, so why wouldn’t they need shoes with good arch and ankle support?
I talk with a lot of parents who bring their children to the shoe store, and they are always saying how they would have preferred to wear good shoes since they were young to avoid some of the problems they are experiencing now relating to their feet, legs, and back.
This is an awesome article. My child was having leg and foot pain. and I ordered one of the shoes that you recommended. It worked! He stopped complaining about the pain and said he loved the shoes. I got the one with the shoe laces since you stated they provide more support!
Billy,
Awesome! I am glad the foot and leg stopped. However, keep a close eye and make sure it doesn’t come back by keep getting your child the right pair of shoes.
Yes, shoes with arch support are the best and most comfortable ones. The fact that a foot is not flat as it looks, there is an arch so as you said if the shoe has an arch it supports the leg to feel comfortable in the shoe.
Thank you for letting me know that even shoes can affect the child’s proper growth. It is something I didn’t know, nor even think about it.
People tend to buy products made in China because they are cheaper. However, when it comes to shoes, we should provide only the best for our children. I believe this will help many parents about choosing shoes.
What advice do you give me for a child whose feet grow so rapidly? He cannot wear shoes for a long time. He quickly says they are tight on him.
Mariam,
I agree that we all try to economize, but buying the proper type of shoes is crucial to provide them with the everyday support they need. Plus, you don’t need to spend a lot of money in order for the shoes to be supportive, you just need to know how to choose them.
Children feet do grow fast, but there is a certain amount of growing room we can leave in their shoes, without leaving too much room. You need to accept the fact that your child will keep growing, and shoes must be replaced often depending on your kids age. How old is your child?
This is an awesome post, I highly agree with kids being able to perform better in corrective shoes, as a fitness coach, I have teens-adults retraining their movement pattern and this involves proper foot stability. The way we stand is crucial to our bodies overall performance.
I will be sharing this with parents I know, there is a lot of them that can use this.
Damian,
I am glad that you, as a fitness coach, agrees that children will perform better if they are wearing the right type of shoes. Our feet are the foundation for our entire body, and it is important that we take care of them!