Starting to walk

At around the age of two, children walk with a flat-footed stomp. Their hip joints will have rotated, so their feet and knees will now point forward. And they won't need to use their arms to balance anymore - so they'll be picking up anything that they can get their hands on!

At four years old they may still seem a little flat-footed, but they will be developing a heel-to-toe walking style. Their knees and ankles will flex naturally, making their movement smoother than before, though they'll find changing speed or direction difficult. They'll also be getting to grips with running and jumping.

Throughout this period, they need shoes which are flexible enough to let their movement develop naturally, but sturdy enough to protect them as they become more active.

Foot development

Between two and four years of age, the navicular bone will start to ossify and the 'puppy fat' around the bones will start to disappear. You'll notice the foot taking on a more adult shape.

Surprisingly, the foot will have more bones in it at this stage than at any other time - 45 separate bone centres that will grow together over the next 15 years of your child's life.

If there's no real arch development at this time, no problem. It's perfectly natural at this age, so there's no need to look for arch supports in shoes just yet.

Choosing shoes

What to look for:

  • Highly flexible fore-parts
  • Shaped and stable back-parts
  • Additional padding to cushion active feet
  • Uppers made from leather and other natural and breathable materials
  • Fully-adjustable fastenings
  • Full 14mm growing room
  • Avoid excessively flared or undershot heels that can create walking difficulties
  • Whole and half sizes and a choice of widths
  • Added performance features like EVA/Phylon mid-soles for extra shock absorption
  • Carefully fitted by trained shoe fitters