Easy Shoes for Kids – The Best Kids’ Shoes for Busy Parents!
Have you been looking for a pair of shoes that your child can easily put on and take off? I have been working for a children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that specializes in helping children with “complex” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. Most parents complain about how they have a hard time getting their children’s shoes on and off. I am going to show you a list of easy shoes for kids based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
Easy Shoes Make it Easier to Get Your Child’s Shoes On and Off
Parents are always asking me about what are the best type of “easy or more convenient shoes” for their children. What they mean by “easy shoes” is shoes with wider openings that come with an alternative closure such as velcro, so children can put them on and take them off themselves.
Some parents also prefer shoes that come with zippers on the sides to be able to easily slide their children’s feet inside the shoes.
Shoes that provide extra depth allow children can easily slide their feet in. In addition, the shoes must also open up widely for your child to be able to easily slide his/her foot in.
Finding a pair of shoes with velcro closure for your child is easy, but finding a pair of shoes that provide extra depth for your child is actually really hard. Shoes don’t come labeled as “extra deep”, so the only way to tell if a shoe is deep is by actually having fitted that particular shoe style before.
If you want your children to be independent and be able to put the shoes on and take them off by themselves, you must help them by providing them with a pair of shoes that are easy for them to manage.
Eliminate the headache and hassle of struggling to put your kids’ shoes on every time you are rushing out. I will show you a selection of the best easy shoes for kids shortly, but first, let’s make sure that you know your child’s exact foot size.
Before I show you a selection of the best easy shoes for kids, I want to make sure that you know your child’s exact foot size. You won’t be able to order the correct shoe size if you don’t know what your child’s foot size is to begin with.
I always recommend parents take their children to their local children’s shoe store that they trust, the issue is that most stores have been closing down and parents end up buying their kids’ shoes online. There is nothing wrong with this, but you must know your child’s exact foot size to know what size to order.
Figuring Out Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
I created a resource that showcases the best-fitting children’s shoe stores by state for proper fittings.
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to identify a shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an article I created that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home.
In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not. Now that you know how to figure out your child’s foot size from home you are ready to take a look at a selection of the best easy shoes for kids.
I only write reviews of shoe styles that I have fitted before, otherwise, I wouldn’t know how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Easy Shoes for Kids
Below you can find a selection of the best easy shoes for kids. These shoes can fit children with medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) feet.
Shoes for Toddlers Who Are Learning How to Walk
- Shoe style Zippy Shoes by Happy Baby
- Fits medium and wide feet
- The zipper goes all the way through the sole – making putting on and removing a breeze
- Order this shoe based on your baby’s age
- Shoe style Zippy Shoes by Happy Baby
- Fits medium and wide feet
- The zipper goes all the way through the sole – making putting on and removing a breeze
- Order this shoe based on your baby’s age
- Shoe style SRT SM Artie by Saucony
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Rounded edges to decrease stumbles and falls
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style SM Kennedy by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Martin by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- Oversized opening and pull tab on the back offer easy on and off
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Shoe style Soft Motion Liliana Mary Jane by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Long heel counter provides stability
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Soft Motion Kylin by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Long heel counter provides stability
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Stevie II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Generous toe box provides room for healthy foot development
- TPR full rubber outsole provides flexibility and traction
- Rubberized toe cap to protect little toes
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Shoes for Toddlers Who Are Already Walking
- Shoe style Ride 10 Jr by Saucony
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- APMA Certified
- Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
- EVA midsole for lightweight feel
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Ride 10 Jr by Saucony
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Kristin Sneaker by See Kai Run
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Flexible and lightweight design allows for maximum mobility and promotes healthy foot development
- Roomy toe box allows the child’s feet to develop strength naturally
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 360 by Stride Rite
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style RaveRun by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style RaveRun by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Russell by See Kai Run
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Robyne by See Kai Run
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Keep in mind that I have fitted all of these shoes before and I know how they fit. If you ever have any doubts about how a particular shoe style fits —long, short, narrow, or wide— please don’t hesitate to contact me.
In addition to the shoes being easy to put on and take off, the shoes must also be supportive, lightweight, flexible, and breathable. The children’s shoe store that I work for specializes in children with foot issues, so we only carry good quality, supportive shoes that are also available in different widths, in case we need to fit an orthotic inside the shoes.
Providing your children with a pair of “easy shoes” will allow them to be more independent and you will end up saving a lot of time in the morning when you are rushing to get them to school.
Velcro Closure or Shoelaces?
Shoelaces aren’t easy for children to master. Trying to make “good bunny ears” can take years for kids to get right (especially boys). Trust me when I tell you that your life will be so much easier when your children can put their shoes on and take them off by themselves.
There are only 2 times that I recommend parents provide their children with a pair of shoelaces instead of velcro closure:
1️⃣ Stability issues: A pair of shoes that come with shoelaces is going to provide your child with better stability as the shoelaces will hug your kids’ feet better.
2️⃣ Orthotics: When children wear orthotics their feet get raised and they get the impression that their feet are coming out of the shoes, but a pair of shoes that come with shoelaces help secure and prevent their heels from coming up and down the shoes.
Finding a pair of “easy shoes” is not an easy thing to do, as in addition to finding a shoe with velcro closure the shoes must provide extra depth and come with rounder toe-boxes. Remember that the deeper the shoe, the easier it is going to be for your kids to slide their feet inside the shoe. The tongue of the shoe must also open nice and wide, because certain children will have a very hard time sliding their feet inside the shoes.
Once I am done fitting children for their shoes, parents immediately ask me if they can check whether their children can put the shoes on by themselves. Sometimes the child can easily put them on, but certain children do have a harder time putting their shoes on. Having a shoe with a tongue that opens nice and wide will guarantee that your child will be easily able to slide his or her feet inside the shoes. Now you can stop the struggle of having to deal with putting your kids’ shoes on every time you are rushing out of the house. Your child will love being able to easily put his or her shoes on by themselves.
Have you found a particular shoe style that has been easy for your children to put on and take off by themselves? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below so other parents can benefit from them.
