I have said before that I truly believe in spending the extra money to get my children in shoes that help them learn to walk properly and support their feet and legs.  This is why I like Stride Rite so much, because that is their philosophy.  In recent study by Stride Rite Children’s Group called “The Effects of Shoe Design on Children Who are Learning to Walk”, they found these interesting facts:

• Up until age 5, the foot is still forming and is mostly cartilage and the most critical development period is the first seven years.
• The arch begins forming at age 2 and it is normal for a child to develop a fairly complete arch by age 6.
• Only a small percentage of the population are born with foot problems.  Neglect and lack of awareness of proper-fitting shoes in the development stages bring on foot, leg and back problems later in life.
• Few parents realize that children’s feet remain vulnerable to ill-fitting shoes right through their school days, up to the age of 18 years. The effects of childhood foot damage can show up in posture and gait in the early twenties.

Armed with these findings, Stride Rite developed it’s Sensory Response Technology (SRT).  SRT “combines a flexible outsole with rounded edge design and features a sensory feedback system that enables children to better feel the ground beneath them, allowing them to better stabilize and more quickly adjust to changes in terrain.”  It also improves stability and enhances the long-term development of their walking gait.  Stride Rite now uses SRT in all of their shoes from Early Walker through Toddler (ending at age 5).

I recently cleaned out my 3-year old’s closet and moved a bunch of shoes over to my 2-year old’s closet. I must say, MY STRIDE RITE SHOES HELD UP INCREDIBLY WELL compared to other brands. They truly are the shoe that will still look great on my second child as a “hand-me-down” item. I picked up the shoe above Buffy (Toddler) in Hot Pink and my daughter could not be more excited. She felt like a princess and twirled as soon as she put them on. I love how they are easy to get on and something she can do herself.

Make sure to shop Stride Rite by Sunday, April 8th to pick up a FREE  egg containing a Scratch & Save card worth up to 60% off a future purchase. Your discount can be used April 10 thru April 22.

Disclosure: I was provided with a pair of shoes from Stride Rite.  All opinions expressed are my own and should not be substituted as your own.

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