Has your child been diagnosed with flat feet? Is your child complaining about foot and leg pain? There are certain kids’ shoes that provide better support than others and help improve a child’s walking gait and posture. I am going to show you a list of the best kids’ shoes with arch support based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
The most common reason why children need a pair of shoes with arch support is having flat feet. This foot condition leads to excessive pronation, and once the feet are pronated, the knees and hips also become misaligned.
Finding a pair of shoes for a child with flat feet can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience if you don’t know what shoe styles to look for. There is only a few selection of children’s shoes that can help your child’s flat feet, but the good news is that I will help you find them, based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
Children’s feet suffer about 3 times more stress than the average adult’s feet, and this is simply because children are involved in higher-impact activities than adults. Therefore, I always recommend that they wear supportive shoes with good shock absorption to reduce the high impact on their feet and legs.
Pro Tip:If you’re pressed for time here is alistof the most supportive shoes for children.
Children with Flat Feet – Before and After Images
Did you know that something so simple as providing flat-footed children with the correct type of shoes can help improve their posture and allowthem to walk and run straighter? Let me prove it to you!
Let’s take a look at the image of a flat-footed child standing barefoot. Does the image look familiar? Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards?
Now let’s take a look at an image of the sameflat-footed child wearing a pair of unsupportive sneakers. Do you notice how the feet are collapsing and turning inwards?
Now let’s take a look at a picture of the same child wearing a pair of supportive shoes. Do you notice howstraighter the feet are? The substantial outsole is preventing the child’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards and is improving the child’s overall posture.
Several parents have contacted me asking if I know about a particular shoe style that can help reduce or fully eliminate their child’s foot and leg pain. The answer is yes, I know exactly which shoes provide better support than others from having fitted them before.The shoes that I recommend provide the following benefits:
1️⃣They help improve your children’s posture by allowing them to walk and run straighter.
2️⃣They help minimize the impact on your kids’ feet and legs every time they come in contact with the ground.
3️⃣They help your child with balance.
4️⃣They help reduce or fully eliminate your kids’ muscle strain and fatigue.
Is It Normal for Children to Complain About Foot Pain?
Foot and leg pain in children is never normal, and you shouldn’t just assume that they are growing pains. Once your children start complaining about foot or leg pain you should always start by checking the shoes that they are wearing. Most pain is related to the type of footwear that they wear as it might not be supportive enough or it might not be the correct size.
I always recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their kids’ foot conditions, as this can only lead to the condition getting worse.
If you are not sure whether you have a flat-footed child at home take a look at the image below for clarification purposes:
I will show you a selection of the best kids’ shoes with arch support shortly, but first I want to show you what 3 keyfeatures the shoes I recommend provide.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Foot Pain?
1️⃣Substantial Outsoles: This feature helps support your children’s feet and minimize the impact that their feet receive every time they come in contact with the ground. Shoes with a substantial outsole also prevent your child’s feet from collapsing and allow your child to walk and run straighter.
Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a substantial outsole versusa shoe with an outsole that is too thin and doesn’t provide the correct amount of support:
2️⃣Firm Heel Counters:This feature helps cushion and protect your kids’ heels and provideslateral stability. Always make sure the heel counter of your kids’ shoes feels firm. Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a firm heel counter and a shoe with a soft heel counter:
3️⃣Lightweight and Flexible: While the shoes must be supportive, they need to be lightweight and flexible at the same time to prevent your kids’ feet and legs from easily getting tired. Your kids’ shoes should always bend at the ball of the foot but not further:
Now that you know what features the shoes I recommend provide and how to figure out your child’s foot size from home, you are ready to take a look at a selection of the best kids’ shoes with arch support.
I only writereviewsof shoe styles that I have fitted before, otherwise, I wouldn’t know howwell-madethey are, the amount ofsupportthat they provide, and how theyfit. 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.
The Best Kids’ Shoes with Arch Support
These shoes are available in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW).
- The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Stride Rite shoe style Elliot is available for toddlers
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Stride Rite shoe style Emilia is available for toddlers
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Timberland shoe style Tracks is available for toddlers
- Double velcro straps
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Water-friendly
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for toddlers
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Memo shoe style Gabi is available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Memo shoe style Gabi is available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Cohesion is available for toddlers
- Velcro closure
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Cohesion is available for toddlers
- Velcro closure
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Timberland shoe style Bootie fits toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Padded collar for a comfortable fit around the ankle
- Water-friendly
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Memo shoe style Princessa fits toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Cohesion 14 is available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Cohesion 14 is available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style DynaSoft v5 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 2002 is available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 2002 is available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style DynaSoft v5 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Memo shoe style Polo is available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Memo shoe style Chicago is available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Coco is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Adidas shoe style Own the Game 2.0 is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Adidas shoe style Cross Em Up Select is available for little kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Non-marking outsole
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Kinvara LTT is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Kinvara LTT is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Cohesion 14 LTT is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style FuelCell Rebel v3 is available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 327 is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 527 is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 527 is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
These shoes all come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure, as shoelaces provide better support and stability. If you don’t know your child’s foot size you won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online. This leads me to this next question:
Are You 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size? – Get it Right!
I always recommend parents take their children to their local fitting children’s shoe store that they trust, the issue is that most fitting stores have been closingand parents need to end up buying theirkids’ shoes online. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as you know your exact foot size.
I created a resourcethat showcases thebest-fitting children’s shoe storesbystate.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to identify a shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an articleI created that describes thesimplest, yetmost effective wayto figure out your child’s foot size from home:
Now that you know which are the best kids’ shoes with arch support you are ready to make the most informed decision.
Providing your child with a pair of good-quality, supportiveshoes will allow for proper growth and foot development. Supportiveshoes are recommended for every child, not just for those with specific foot issues.
Have You Heard of “Arch Support Cookies”?
If you already own a pair of shoes for your child and you are not ready to replace them just yet, you can fit an “arch support cookie” inside the shoes for extra support.
Arch support cookies are adhesive-backed pads that fit below the arch of your kids’ feet and provide extra arch support. You must remove the original insoles of the shoe first before placing the adhesive “ cookie” arch support, and then put the original insole of the shoe back on top.
This product will help alleviate your kids’ pain in the archwhich can be associated with high arches, weak arches, fallen arches, flat feet, and pronation-related foot problems. While I can’t get into too much detail about which are the best arch support cookies for kids, there is another article that I wrote where I describe the best arch support cookies for children and how to fit them inside the shoes. Go to the link below:
Contact Us – Get a Personalized Recommendation!
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child’s flat feet. My e-mail address is:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Have you found a particular shoe style that provides good arch support and has worked well for your child’s flat feet? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
