When choosing shoes for their child, parents often ask the same question: Velcro or laces? Both have their advantages, and the choice depends on the child's age and personality.
Velcro
From a very young age, children can put Velcro shoes on and take them off by themselves. That way they get used to being independent, and you have time to spare in the morning. If a shoe comes loose during the day, your child can fasten it again in one movement.
Velcro is especially handy at nursery age, when a child can't tie laces yet.
Laces
Laced shoes fit the foot precisely: you can tighten the laces evenly along the whole foot, from the bottom to the top. That's especially good for narrow feet, for children with a high instep, and for little ones who run and jump all day long.
Learning to tie laces is good practice for the fingers too. Most children learn it between the ages of five and seven.
What to look out for
The Velcro strap should be wide enough to hold the foot securely inside.
Laces shouldn't be too long — a child can trip over a long lace.
Either way, the heel should sit firmly in the shoe and the foot shouldn't slide around inside.
Every model in our catalogue is a barefoot shoe — with a wide toe box and a thin, flexible sole. How it fastens is simply down to you and your child.
