The Coolest Shoes for Kids – Fashionable yet Functional Shoes for Your Child!
In the past, children did not have any say in their fashion choices; those were made by their parents or grandparents. These days kids know what they want. It is hard to force them to wear what they don’t like. They want to wear what they see their friends wearing, or their favorite personalities are wearing. I have put together a list of the coolest shoes for kids based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
I understand that current fashion is important to children, but I always advise parents to never compromise on the way the shoes fit. Children want what is attractive and flashy as opposed to an adult who requires function and affordability.
Is it possible to find a pair of shoes that are attractive to kids but at the same time functional and healthy for their feet? I call shoes functional when they serve a purpose and provide good support, are flexible, lightweight, and breathable.
Most parents always want functional shoes for their children, but as kids get older, it gets harder and harder for them to tell them what to wear. If your child has reached that point, I will show you the coolest shoes for kids that are still functional and supportive of their feet.
Fashion vs Function – Can You Combine the Two?
While we always want to make kids happy, providing them with a pair of fashionable shoes that don’t offer enough support might create numerous foot issues.
Fashion shoes are only meant to be worn for a couple of hours, and only once in a while. If your child wears fashionable shoes as his or her everyday shoes, it may lead to foot and leg pain. It can also lead to problems such as blisters, calluses and corns —the later ones are incredibly hard to get rid of.
There are few children’s fashion shoes that provide good support for your child’s feet. Some of these shoes are available in different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide.
Please keep in mind that it doesn’t matter how much support a shoe provides, if it is not fitted properly, your child won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer.
I always recommend parents take their kids to their local children’s shoe store where a shoe fitter can properly measure their feet and find shoes accordingly. The concern parents have is that most local children’s shoe stores have been closing, and they are left with big retailers such as Nordstrom’s or Payless, which have sales staff and not trained fitters that don’t know how to properly fit shoes.
Measuring Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
If you are one of those parents who don’t have a shoe store in their area that they trust, start by reading a post I wrote where I describe the best way to make sure your child is wearing the correct shoe size.
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 make sure your child is wearing the correct shoe size, you are ready to see a selection of the coolest shoes for children that also provide everyday support. 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. This allows us to create free content and resources for many families around the world.
The Coolest Kids’ Sneakers
These shoe styles are actually available in toddler sizes, all the way up to big kid sizes.
- Shoes style Lighted Dinosaur by Stride Rite
- Fits medium and wide feet
- EVA midsole and rubber outsole for extra support
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening and hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoes style Minnie Multi Lighted by Josmo
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive outsole and firm heel counter
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoes style Boys Lighted Cosmic by Stride Rite
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- EVA midsole for extra cushion
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoes style Frozen by Stride Rite
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Firm heel counter and supportive outsole
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoes style Batman by DC Comics
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Firm heel counter and supportive outsole
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoes style Sneaker by Skechers
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Air Cooled Memory Foam
- Velcro closure for easy on and off
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoes style Brothers Mario and Luigi by Super Mario
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lightweight material for premium comfort and flexibility
- Velcro closure for easy on and off
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoes style Led Light Up by Diyjts
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive outsole
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoes style T-Rex Lighted by Jurassic World
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Cushioned insoles
- Durable mesh upper
- Shoes style Basketball by Ashion
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Solid rubber outsole with herringbone traction pattern provides exceptional grip
- Vertical and horizontal flex grooves give you flexibility in all directions
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Dо nоt uѕе these shoes as your kids’ running shoes or for playing sports. Othеrwіѕе, іt will damage thе light ѕуѕtеm аnd thе ѕhоеѕ wіll stop lighting uр. Also, don’t allow your child to wear this type of shoes in the rain.
Some children might prefer flashy and fun shoes with superheroes or cartoon characters, but are these shoes supportive enough? There is a small selection of light up shoes that actually provide good support.
However, you must be careful when you choose them. I have helped numerous children that came to the shoe store wearing character shoes from places like Target or Walmart, which don’t provide any support and are made from low-quality materials. Those types of shoes end up falling apart in a month or two, and children should always outgrow their shoes before they are ready to be replaced.
I have fitted light up shoes by Stride Rite that actually provide great support and are available in different widths. There is a post I wrote where I describe the my go-to selection of light up shoes for children.
In that post, I describe the most supportive, everyday light up shoes for children that are also available in different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide.
Your child can wear these shoes as his or her everyday sneakers, but if your child is very active I would recommend getting him an extra pair of shoes for his or her more intense activities.
Now that you know which has been the most popular shoe style for children, you are ready to make the most informative decision!
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child.
Have you tried this shoe style for your child before? Are there any other light up shoes you will recommend for children or adults? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below so we can all benefit from them!
