Searching for a summer shoe that my son will wear without tripping is like finding a needle in a haystack. His current ones just aren’t cutting it.  When we were on vacation, this became somewhat of an issue for everyone who had to stop and watch him right himself, adjust the “thingy” in the middle of his flip-flops or complain that his feet hurt.

My nephew finally exclaimed in frustration, “Just get him a pair of sandals already”, and my sister threatened not to let me go away with her next year unless he had a decent pair of shoes.

So I am searching for something lightweight, breathable and preferably with a rubber sole like a sneaker.  These Teva Hurricane Sandals seem have all of the things I am looking for.

The word “Teva” means nature in Hebrew, and this company makes the ultimate outdoor shoe. (They recently won the Outdoor Industry Award for their products.) I own a pair of Teva’s myself, circa…ummm…1999? They are still in good shape!

These Hurricane sandals have a patented universal “strapping system” that ensures a custom fit, shock absorbing mid-soles for added cushioning and a sturdy rubber sole. I like the fact that this is an open toe sandal that allows a child’s foot to “breathe”

The simple design makes them easy for kids to get off and on, with hook and loop straps. Did I mention they are waterproof, too?

Having comfortable shoes to wear that fit properly is important for everyone, especially kids and Teva makes the best! (Check out Teva Kids K Dristi in a pretty pink for girls)

As a mother, I am always looking for something cool for my son to wear that’s hip, not too costly and preferably made with natural fibers.  I’m sorry to say that’s not always the case when accepting hand me downs from the neighbor next door.

That’s why when I saw these trendy sandals from Monkey Toes, I just had to share. The Buzzy Bee MJ’s-9 are truly charming.   These comfy, hand-painted (in the U.S.A.) sandals are perfect for a little one’s feet .The easy open design of these make them a breeze to slip on and off, which is great for kids who cannot quite tie their shoes yet.  Designed to look like smiley bumblebees, they are the perfect “what shoes should I wear?” shoe.

Sporting a nice rubber sole, they are terrific to wear almost anywhere.  Just throw them in the washer when they get dirty. They also come in other cute insect designs as well as assorted animals.  Monkey Toes are like little friends for your feet and are gender neutral which makes them perfect if you’re the one passing them down. Appropriate for ages 6 months to 5 years.

Don’t be surprised if your kids won’t give them up!

The Seventies are back in a big way.  From Maxi Dresses’ to the Peace sign.

Enter the beloved Converse Kids All Star Hi-Top sneaker.  Every basketball player in my school wore them, and they’ve been restyled for this generation.  From tomboys to girlie-girls, everyone wants a pair.

My 12 yr. old niece has a pair of “Chucks” (that’s what they call ‘em) and she confirms they go with everything she owns.  From shorts to leggings and even her Easter dress. Less clunky than skate shoes and more fashion forward , the look is clean and cool. They look great with low socks or no socks and with summer around the corner a cool canvas shoe is a great alternative to flip flops. (Lets face it, you just can’t run around and play if your shoes keep coming off)  These sneakers are lightweight and and boast a durable rubber outsole

If you check out the marketplace, every store has some version of this shoe, but if you want to be authentic, go for the leader in athletic shoe design.

Reasonably priced, they won’t break your budget either so get a couple of different colors. You know they’ll outgrow them, but they’ll have fun in the meantime.

Your kids will thank you.

Before heading to the beach footwear must be considered. Now, that’s obvious of course since we do consider footwear every time we leave the house, even though we often make terrible choices. (Remember those gorgeous 5 inch heels you only wore once?)

If you have children the issue of appropriate footwear multiplies, since children’s’ considerations are different that adults. Will they find the first mud puddle in which to jump? Are they planning to climb on monkey bars? Do their beloved slip-ons still fit? And my favorite, are they the ones that always come untied?

Going to the beach has it’s own set of concerns including realizing that sand can and will get into any shoes worn there. Though the logical choice when going to the pool is flip flops, these rather flimsy shoes work less well at the beach which is why we always wear water shoes.

These Stay-Put water shoes slip on, not easily but snuggly and give added support for walking on sand. They can be worn right into the water which is perfect if you frequent rocky beaches or those wonderful few still left that feature shells.

You can even wear them to and in the pool where they keep hot pavement off tender soles.

I have to admit, while I’m not usually a fan of expensive shoes for children, ( I know, I know, growing feet, spend the money) Uggs are one shoe that I will shell out the dough to buy.

My son has had Uggs for the past few years and talk about getting the wear out of them…and we live in a warm climate! Each morning from November to well into April he grabs his Uggs and pulls them on…by himself! He runs all day at the playground – no laces to come untied; not slipping off as he runs. Then at night, he kicks them off …all by himself and even, occasionally, puts them carefully on the shoe rack.

The natural shearling
wool lining breathes, making these boots comfortable in both freezing cold and moderately temperate weather. When we venture into cold climes, they keep his feet warm. Back home, they don’t heat him up too much and they are, fortunately easy to clean…and dry. A few hours under the radiator or over a heating vents and they’re ready to go again – just enough time for hot chocolate and a short nap.

And did I mention they last? Our first pair was a hand me down from a neighbor – in perfect shape after her son wore them everyday from November until well into April. That’s quality!