what size shoe does a 5 year old boy wear

 

The term size, in the shoe industry, refers to the width of a shoe. The most common width is a size 7. A child ages six to nine years old wears shoes with a wide width (a size 8), but typically not much wider than this.

Generally, one can safely say that an average kid's foot measures between 6 and 8 inches in length and will fit into either a 7 or 8-inch shoe. If the shoe fits well and is worn for a few minutes on a carpeted surface, it should feel comfortable. If it does not, always choose a size larger than the one that feels too small.

A size 5.5 shoe is made to fit feet that measure approximately 3 to 3-5/8 inches in length. This may be slightly snug on some feet, particularly those of an older child or adult with wide feet or high insteps. The same may be true if you are buying shoes for a man who has very narrow feet.

 

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Women's shoe size 5 is designed to fit a foot that measures approximately 3-1/2 inches in length. Again, this may be snug on some feet, particularly those of an older women or one with high arches.

A size 6 is made for a foot that measures approximately 3-3/4 inches in length. Again, you may encounter some pressure points at the sides and across the instep of many feet that are wider or longer than average. These points will be less noticeable if the shoe has a square toe box rather than one that flares out; they will also be less noticeable in dressshoes and sandals than they will in athletic shoes and boots.

A size 7 is made for a foot that measures approximately 4 inches in length. The wide width of a children's shoe allows it to fit, with room to grow, from age 5 to 9. The smaller sizes are still available for children's and women's shoes, but generally not as readily as the larger sizes.

 

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What about shoes that are too small for your child? First, try them on in the house to see if they feel comfortable and pliable, as well as grab attention. Unless your child has an unusually narrow foot or high instep, these should feel fine: if they don't, a larger size will make them feel better.

If the fit is not quite right, try a different size from your child's foot. The medial arch of a child's foot is typically not as high as that of an adult; therefore, the shoe must be a hair smaller than you would normally wear.

What about those times children have asked for smaller shoes? If you can honestly say that they were misrepresenting what they wanted or if they are going to wear the shoes to school, then by all means buy them whatever size they want. Otherwise, if you don't have a good reason to let your child wear shoes that are too small for the age and size of his foot, hold the line.