Back to school shopping is something I both love and dread. I love pretty folders, pencils or pens with cool designs and new backpacks. I can buy all the items needed online or at most local stores by myself. Shoes, on the other hand, require taking my son with me. He dislikes shopping and shoe shopping is at the top of his list of activities to avoid. I’m always trying to guess his shoe size, what style will fit him best and which brand will last the longest. It is a struggle to accomplish all those things in a short amount of time before he begins complaining about trying on shoes. I find myself chasing down someone in the store to bring out a shoe size and style we think would work. Ultimately I end up purchasing a shoe that he outgrows quickly or falls apart within a few months.
When we were asked to visit Sesame Step Children Shoes in Kendall I was both excited and nervous. I could tell my son needed new shoes as he had been complaining that his current shoes were too tight. However, I was dreading the task of figuring out what would work for the upcoming school year. In hopes of distracting my son I brought along a friend and her children.
As soon as we entered Sesame Step Children Shoes we were greeted by friendly sales clerks. Eddie, the owner, came over to assist us. He asked us about the school the kids would be attending, the grades they would be entering and if we wanted both sports and school shoes. Then he proceeded to measure all the children’s feet then gave us suggestions on styles and brands based on the shape of their feet, the school and the grade they would be entering into. He also took the time to look at the shoes the kids were wearing to see how they walked in them. All the while making suggestions about the type of support each child needed for their feet and why specific brands would and would not work for them. From the brands Eddie suggested the kids chose to try Sperry shoes.
Since I wanted shoes that would last longer than a few months, I had originally planned on buying shoes half a size larger than the measured size. However, the sales clerks recommended that the Sperry Penny loafers not be sized up. They explained that the loafers tend to stretch over time with normal everyday wear. Since the Penny loafer will become wider and looser all around you want a solid fit to begin with. The staff also stressed the durability of the Sperry Penny loafer. While the shoe becomes looser with extended wear it maintains its structured classic look.
The classic Sperry boat shoe was what my son picked out. I quickly learned that I had been buying the wrong shoe size, style and brand of shoe for my son’s foot. I had been buying canvas loafers in a size 5.5 whereas he needs a size 6 shoe made with durable material. The classic Sperry boat shoe was a perfect fit for my son’s foot. Once he had the shoes on he requested to wear them out of the store, and that never happens.
For the Sperry boys dress shoes the staff suggested that I purchase the shoe in the exact measured size. Since my son’s feet were measured between a 6 and a 6.5 we went with a 6.5 size shoe. The staff added a small insert in the front to make the shoe fit a little snugger. They suggested removal of the insert when my son’s feet change. This will ideally extend the length of time the shoe will fit. In all my years of buying school shoes two to three times a year no one had ever suggested this practice.
Four kids, four different ages, 2 boys and 2 girls all found school shoes to last them the whole school year in under 30 minutes. Overall our shopping experience was amazing. We learned about the types of shoes our children needed based on their feet. The staff at Sesame Step Children Shoes was extremely knowledgeable and friendly with everyone in the store. It was the most informative and pleasurable back to school shoe shopping experience I’ve ever had. I will most definitely continue to shop at Sesame Step Children Shoes for all my son’s footwear.
Although I’ve received products and/or compensation for this review, all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
