Has your child been diagnosed with flat feet? Is your child complaining about foot and leg pain? There are certain kids’ shoes that provide better support than others and help improve a child’s walking gait and posture. I am going to show you a list of the best kids’ shoes with arch support based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
The most common reason why children need a pair of shoes with arch support is having flat feet. This foot condition leads to excessive pronation, and once the feet are pronated, the knees and hips also become misaligned.
Finding a pair of shoes for a child with flat feet can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience if you don’t know what shoe styles to look for. There is only a few selection of children’s shoes that can help your child’s flat feet, but the good news is that I will help you find them.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that focuses on helping children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. We carry some of the most supportive children’s shoes and orthotics, and I am familiar with which shoe brands and which shoe styles provide better support than others.
There is only a small selection of shoes that provide good arch support, the key is to find a pair of shoes that come with a substantial outsole that helps improve your child’s walking gait and prevent foot and leg pain.
Children’s feet suffer about 3 times more stress than the average adult’s feet, and this is simply because children are involved in higher-impact activities than adults. Therefore, I always recommend that they wear supportive shoes with good shock absorption to reduce the high impact on their feet and legs.
Children with Flat Feet – Before and After Images
Did you know that something so simple as providing flat-footed children with the correct type of shoes can help improve their posture and allow them to walk and run straighter? Let me prove it to you!
Let’s take a look at the image of a flat-footed child standing barefoot. Does the image look familiar? Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards?
Now let’s take a look at an image of the same flat-footed child wearing a pair of unsupportive sneakers. Do you notice how the feet are collapsing and turning inwards?
Now let’s take a look at a picture of the same child wearing a pair of supportive shoes. Do you notice how straighter the feet are? The substantial outsole is preventing the child’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards and is improving the child’s overall posture.
Several parents have contacted me asking if I know about a particular shoe style that can help reduce or fully eliminate their child’s foot and leg pain. The answer is yes, I know exactly which shoes provide better support than others from having fitted them before. The shoes that I recommend provide the following benefits:
1️⃣ They help improve your children’s posture by allowing them to walk and run straighter.
2️⃣ They help minimize the impact on your kids’ feet and legs every time they come in contact with the ground.
3️⃣ They help your child with balance.
4️⃣ They help reduce or fully eliminate your kids’ muscle strain and fatigue.
Is It Normal for Children to Complain About Foot Pain?
Foot and leg pain in children is never normal, and you shouldn’t just assume that they are growing pains. Once your children start complaining about foot or leg pain you should always start by checking the shoes that they are wearing. Most pain is related to the type of footwear that they wear as it might not be supportive enough or it might not be the correct size.
I always recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their kids’ foot conditions, as this can only lead to the condition getting worse.
If you are not sure whether you have a flat-footed child at home take a look at the image below for clarification purposes:
I will show you a selection of the best kids’ shoes with arch support shortly, but first I want to show you what 3 key features the shoes I recommend provide.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Foot Pain?
1️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: This feature helps support your children’s feet and minimize the impact that their feet receive every time they come in contact with the ground. Shoes with a substantial outsole also prevent your child’s feet from collapsing and allow your child to walk and run straighter.
Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a substantial outsole versus a shoe with an outsole that is too thin and doesn’t provide the correct amount of support:
2️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: This feature helps cushion and protect your kids’ heels and provides lateral stability. Always make sure the heel counter of your kids’ shoes feels firm. Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a firm heel counter and a shoe with a soft heel counter:
3️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: While the shoes must be supportive, they need to be lightweight and flexible at the same time to prevent your kids’ feet and legs from easily getting tired. Your kids’ shoes should always bend at the ball of the foot but not further:
Now that you know what features the shoes I recommend provide and how to figure out your child’s foot size from home, you are ready to take a look at a selection of the best kids’ shoes with arch support.
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: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Kids’ Shoes with Arch Support ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
These shoes are available in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW).
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Constructed with a breathable textile lining and an OrthoLite® comfort foam insoles provide moisture transport, antimicrobial function, and long-term cushioning
- Water-friendly
- Double hook-and-loop closure for easy on and off
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Removable insoles
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Stiff and high ankle support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Stiff and high ankle support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth and width for orthotics
- Rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Removable insoles
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a comfortable fit
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Durable leather upper
- Stability Web outsole technology provides added arch support
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide or extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Lace-Up closure
- Non-marking outsole
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Breathable mesh and synthetic upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning in the heel
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- No-sew tip for durability where kids need it most
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?
In each of the descriptions of the shoes, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
These shoes all come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure, as shoelaces provide better support and stability. If you don’t know your child’s foot size you won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online. This leads me to this next question:
Are You 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size? – Get it Right!
I always recommend parents take their children to their local fitting children’s shoe store that they trust, the issue is that most fitting stores have been closing and parents need to end up buying their kids’ shoes online. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as you know your exact foot size.
I created a resource that showcases the best-fitting children’s shoe stores by state:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where To Go for Proper Fittings
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
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:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
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 which are the best kids’ shoes with arch support you are ready to make the most informed decision.
Providing your child with a pair of good-quality, supportive shoes will allow for proper growth and foot development. Supportive shoes are recommended for every child, not just for those with specific foot issues.
If you already own a pair of shoes for your child and you are not ready to replace them just yet, you can fit an “arch support cookie” inside the shoes for extra support.
Arch support cookies are adhesive-backed pads that fit below the arch of your kids’ feet and provide extra arch support. You must remove the original insoles of the shoe first before placing the adhesive “ cookie” arch support, and then put the original insole of the shoe back on top.
This product will help alleviate your kids’ pain in the arch which can be associated with high arches, weak arches, fallen arches, flat feet, and pronation-related foot problems. While I can’t get into too much detail about which are the best arch support cookies for kids, there is another article that I wrote where I describe the best arch support cookies for children and how to fit them inside the shoes. Go to the link below:
Arch Support for Kids – The Solution to Your Kids’ Foot Pain!
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child’s flat feet. My e-mail address is:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Have you found a particular shoe style that provides good arch support and has worked well for your child’s flat feet? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
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