Does your child have very narrow feet? Do you always feel like his or her shoes gap too much causing your kids’ feet to move too much inside the shoes?
Shoelaces have a direct impact in the way that shoes FEEL and FIT. I have helped several families that were ready to return or replace their shoes since they were feeling uncomfortable, and what they needed was to tie them properly.
Most parents underestimate the importance of tying their children’s shoes properly. There are certain lacing techniques that will reduce the chance of your child falling down (preventing injuries), alleviating pain and relieving foot problems.
If you have a child with narrow feet, I recommend that you provide your child with shoes that come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure, since shoelaces will make the shoes feel FIT so much better. Besides making the shoes feel and fit better, shoelaces will prevent falls and injuries, since you will also be providing your child with more support and more stability!
If your child has specific foot problems or a certain type of foot shape (narrow) which makes it hard to find shoes that fit, I will show you the best lacing techniques for children with narrow feet.
There is a way to tie your kids’ shoes that will push your kids’ heel back against the shoes (securing the heels) and will make the shoelaces hug your kids’ feet making the whole shoes FEEL and FIT better. This will make your child feel more stable and confident when walking and running.
When our children’s feet move too much inside the shoes, that constant friction between the feet and the shoes can lead to painful blisters, calluses, and corns.
I have been working for a specialized kids’ shoe store evaluating children with foot issues and helping them find the right pair of shoes and orthotics for over 10 years. I had the opportunity to teach several children how to tie their shoes and I have noticed how girls start tying their shoes when they are 5 to 6 years old, and most boys start at the age of 7 or older.
If you have a child with narrow feet, below I will explain the most effective ways to tie the shoes in order to prevent any gapping that can lead to foot movement inside the shoes.
The Best Method to Tie Shoes For Kids With Narrow Feet!
- Start by leaving the two top eyelets (small holes of the shoe) of each side of the shoes open (take a look at the picture below for clarification).
- Grab the shoelaces and go through the top hole first like shown in the picture below.
- The last step is to go through the holes you left open.
I hope you found that shoe lacing technique easy to follow because it does make a huge difference!
You should actually try this lacing technique on your own shoes so you would be able to see what a difference it makes! I use this shoe lacing technique on my shoes and I feel so much more confident and stable when I am running.
In order for this shoe lacing technique to work properly, your child’s shoelaces must be the correct length. If the shoelaces are too long your child might be prone to stepping on them and falling down. On the other hand, if the shoelaces are too short, your child will have a hard time tying them (untied shoes can also lead to your child falling and getting injured)
To figure out the properly length of the shoelaces, you must count how many eyelets (the small holes ) the shoes have. Take a look at the picture below for clarification:
There is a particular type of shoelaces that are called the “Bubble Shoelaces”, and they are very popular since they come with small bumps along the shoelace that prevents the shoelaces from becoming untie. This means that once you tie them, they are much less likely to become untied. These shoelaces are also durable. You can find a wide selection of the best shoelaces for children here:
Have you tried this shoe lacing technique before? Has it worked? Is there any other shoe lacing technique that you will recommend for a child who wears orthotics? Share your experience in the comment section below so we can all benefit from your experiences!
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