Toddlerhood ( – years) If you observe a few children in this age-group and you will notice that they are very active. They need freedom to play indoors as well as outdoors. They want to do most of the things themselves. Now as they start walking, they want to reach out for anything they see.
At this stage shoes or footwear become a very essential part of the clothing. The correct fit in shoes and socks for a small child is essential for foot comfort and health. The principle clothing concern in the toddler age is the selection of shoes. When walking begins, flexible soled shoes with rough soles of inch thickness are worn.
These may be without heel or a slight heel, and should be full and puffy in the toe area. Shoes should be selected and fitted carefully because the soft bones of a child’s foot may be injured by wrong fitting or badly shaped shoes. One must be sure to consider the length, width, height of toe space and fit of the heel. F igure : C orrect fit of S hoe For correct fit, they should be fitted on the child.
The shoes that fit well help to build good body skills in balance, climbing and running. As children outgrow their shoes quickly, shoes need replacement frequently to avoid foot related health dangers. For toddlers overalls are the most suitable dresses. These need to be large at the crotch to allow for diapers.
By the time children are years old, they want to dress on their own. Then it is important to select garments with self-help features that have been listed earlier. Make a size chart of toddlers according to weight and height by measuring four children in this age group, two girls and two boys.