Are Too Many Children Wearing the Wrong Shoes at School?

Every school morning, millions of children lace up their shoes and head off to class. But how many of those shoes actually fit? According to multiple studies and surveys, the answer might be: not nearly enough.

🚨 The Scale of the Problem

A survey by the College of Podiatry involving 2,000 parents revealed that:

• 29% of children wear shoes that are completely the wrong size.

• Over half (55%) have experienced foot issues like blisters, bruises, and calluses caused by ill-fitting shoes.

Widening the lens, global research shows that 63–72% of adults and children wear footwear that doesn’t fit properly in either length or width. In the UK alone, the Children’s Foot Health Register estimates that 4 million children wear the wrong size footwear.

That’s a staggering number with potentially long-term consequences.

Why Proper School Shoe Fit Matters

👣 Healthy Foot Development

Children’s feet are mostly cartilage until they’re fully developed between the ages of 13 and 18. Ill-fitting shoes can interfere with natural growth, potentially causing permanent issues.

⚠️ Preventing Pain & Injury

Tight shoes can lead to:

• Blisters

• Calluses

• Ingrown toenails

Shoes that are too loose? They reduce stability, increasing the risk of falls, twisted ankles, and other injuries.

🦶 Long‑Term Foot Problems

Consistently wearing the wrong size can lead to deformities like bunions, hammer toes, and musculoskeletal problems such as knee, hip, and back pain—even later in life.

How Little Lily & Co Supports Healthy Footwear

Based in Llandudno, Little Lily & Co is on a mission to change the game for school shoe shopping. They believe shoes should do more than just look good—they should support healthy feet.

Their trained fitters:

• Measure both length and width of children’s feet.

• Ensure proper growing room (0.5–1.5 cm from the longest toe to the end of the shoe).

• Offer half sizes and various width fittings.

• Recommend only brands that accommodate diverse foot shapes.

This expert fitting process drastically reduces the risks of blisters, foot pain, and long-term structural issues.

What the Research Tells Us

• Two-thirds of children wear the wrong size shoes when considering both length and width.
  

• Foot pain and structural issues in children are strongly linked to poor shoe fit, according to multiple studies.

Why Are So Many Children Wearing the Wrong Size?

• Parents often misjudge sizes, relying on outdated methods  or guessing based on growth spurts.

• Children’s feet can grow up to 1.5 cm per year, especially between ages 6 and 14. therefore, they are likely to purchase chases too big in hope they grow into them which has impact on their feet.

Practical Tips for Parents & Schools

👟 Measure regularly – Every 3–6 months, or more often during rapid growth periods.
👣 Use professional fitting – Stores like Little Lily & Co use trained staff and proper measuring tools.
🧼 Test in-store – Check for 0.5–1.5 cm of space at the toe, a snug heel, and no pinching.
📏 Pay attention to width – Half sizes aren’t enough if the width is wrong.
🔁 Rotate brands and styles – Not all brands fit the same; find one that matches your child’s foot shape and walking pattern.

Final Thoughts

Wearing the wrong shoes to school isn’t just a minor discomfort—it’s a growing health issue. Studies show that most children are affected, especially when it comes to shoe width, which is often overlooked.

But the solution is simple: accurate measurement, professional fitting, and choosing footwear designed for real feet—not just standard molds.

At Little Lily & Co, their focus on proper fit helps ensure children have the right support to learn, play, and grow pain-free—from the ground up.

Book Your Shoe Fitting Service Today 

📍 Victoria Shopping Centre Llandudno