What parents can do

Always ensure that your child has their feet measured by a trained shoe fitter when you purchase their shoes. The Children’s Foot Health Register provides a booklet with details on retail outlets that ‘guarantee to provide comprehensive training for staff and offer children’s shoes in whole and half sizes and in up to four width fittings’. If necessary, where there is conflict regarding style and fashion, compromise. Some sensible features in a shoe are better than none at all if children refuse to wear ‘old fashioned shoes’. Speak with other parents regarding their footwear buying experiences and compile your own list of reputable and responsible retailers.

Check their feet regularly and ask your podiatrist for advice if any foot problems occur. Don’t rely on your child telling you if they have a problem. Take an interest in your child’s foot health especially if they are involved in activities that may damage the feet.

What teachers can do

Set an example with your own footwear. Discuss foot health and foot issues with the children. The sections on Foot Facts, Footwear, Top tips for children’s feet and Buying shoes – A straightforward guide can be utilised as an outline for child foot health lessons. Regard foot health with the same gravity as other health issues. Utilise your local registered podiatrists to provide input to the children. Private practitioners can be found on The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists website (www.feetforlife.org), or you can contact your local NHS podiatry unit. Review school guidelines on shoes, particularly plimsolls.

What the child can do

Try to be sensible with the shoes that you wear most often. If you have a problem with your feet, get it seen to right away. Many foot problems are very easily fixed but if they are neglected they can cause life-long problems. Remember that if you have aspirations to a job or activity that requires you to be on your feet all day, good foot health will be very important.

Children can learn about good foot health with the help of Professor Pod, a character found on The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrist’s website (www.feetforlife.org).