Having your children’s feet measured and their shoes properly fitted is key for healthy development of young bones. In the UK looking after your child’s foot health is regarded as important as their dental health and it is expected that you have their feet measured regularly and certainly before you buy new shoes. Shoe shops such as Clarks with special measuring devices to ensure perfectly fitting shoes have always been trusted by parents.

The Spanish are certainly a child loving nation. You only need to go out for lunch on a Sunday to notice the proudly preened children complete with Sunday best and matching shoes and ribbons. Similar attention is paid by parents and schools alike to ensure that children eat a healthy and balanced diet. However, when I first moved to Spain with my, then, two year old twins, I was very surprised to find that the Spanish did not share our habit of having their children’s feet measured in terms of length and width.

My first experience of buying childrens shoes involved me loitering around the store for half an hour expecting the assistant to “professionally” fit the shoes that I had chosen. I really didn’t feel qualified enough to try any shoes at my will and make such a critical decision. As I had no other choice, I paid for the shoes, leaving unconvinced that the shoes that I had bought were right for their feet.

I accept that things are done differently in Spain but the whole Clarks measuring service does offer reassuring peace of mind that the shoes aren’t going to damage children’s feet. Compared with the UK, the choice in shoes is far greater and they are so much prettier than the limited selection that Clarks has on offer. However, from a practical point of view, I would prefer to go without the choice for healthy feet.

Short of flying regularly to the UK to have my children’s feet measured, I am yet to find a solution to my concerns. I will continue to look for a shoe shop that offers a similar measuring service to Clarks.