What age do kids stop wearing light up shoes?

[roliepolieoliefan]

Well, I teach 4th grade in central Texas and I had kids wear light up shoes last year. Thinking about it I would say it was more girls than boys but out of the 66 kids I would say that about 10 had shoes that lit up.

I would say that if he likes them let him wear them. It is so sad when parents don't let their kids enjoy being a kid.

I am also a teacher and every year there are some kids in 4th grade that get light-up shoes. No one laughs or makes fun of them. I think 2nd grade is still fine for light-up shoes. Go into any elementary school and you'll see them on kids of all ages. They aren't as popular as they once were though, probably because the novelty of them has worn off, just like the Heely's. My kids loved their Heely's when no one else had them (about 5 years ago), but once most other kids started wearing them, my kids didn't want them any more.

I say let him be a kid. I seriously doubt he'll get teased at his age, unless he has other issues that make him a "bully magnet."

I say Wow! My DS just finished 4th grade and I can't imagine anyone would think of wearing light up shoes in his school or the district we just moved from. Yes, they would have been teased.

I'm all for kids being leaders not followers and expressing themselves, but you also don't want your kid to be the butt of jokes or made fun of. Kids are cruel and have very long memories.

 

[splash5]

I think if they make them in the right size, they should go for it. My son was always larger than the going sizes and sometimes outgrew a style before it was a fashion faux pas. I work at a grade school and let me tell you, they wear all kinds of styles. The kids have enough to worry about without making fun of someone for what kind of shoes they wear.

 

[CathrynRose]

I LOVE these sneakers!!!! What brand are they, where did you buy them, and do they come in adult sizes (my DD is a women's 9 in shoes!)

They are DC's and he's in a men's 12 1/2. Monster Feet. You can imagine how obnoxious they look at that size. LOL!

And there have been kids who have said things like needing sunglasses for his shoes, but like previously posters have mentioned, he tells them he doesn't care because he likes them.

 

[CathrynRose]

Well those are DC's but I can't seem to find them anywhere online(I am assuming they are Men's skater shoes since that's what most of the DC's I know are)

I thiiiiink we got them at dogfunk.com, last fall maybe ????

He's got a Nike Neon pair too, but I can't find a pic of those online. But they're really similar to the DC's but black instead of the gray, like the DC's.

I don't know if DC's are unisex?? I dunno....but it's another example of *wear what you like*

 

[kimmtd]

I say go for it! My DS is 6 and loves them but we have a hard time finding light-up for him, huge feet! He hassz 2 1/2 & he just turned 6 in April. He often couldn't get the fun shoes he wanted because his feet were too large, my 8yr old DD has same issue, DS was crushed he couldn't get his crocs in the Thomas/train style last yr because of his shoe size, same for DD and some cute Tink tennis shoes & boots because she is no longer in kid sizes. If he wants them, let him enjoy!

 

[MissyDVC]

I say get him the sneakers that make him happy and don't worry about the other kids and adults. To each his own!

 

[IDoDis]

I say get him the sneakers that make him happy and don't worry about the other kids and adults. To each his own!

I agree. Again, I seriously doubt he'll get teased in 2nd grade and if the older kids don't like them, they'll really not pay attention since he's younger.

OP, it only gets worse with the shoes. It used to be easy to go in and buy a pair of light-up Sketchers for my kids when they were younger. As kids get older, the cool shoes get way more expensive, and what was cool 6 months ago is no longer cool on the next shopping trip.

My 13 year old DD asked if she could have custom Vans for her back to school shoes which have to be ordered online. She got to design them herself (pink & purple with peace signs). I had a free shipping code but then found out Vans doesn't honor the free shipping on customs with this code! The shoes came to $71.56. I told DD no way, but then she said she'd pay $20 of her own money since I spent $50 on DS's new non-custom Vans shoes, so I agreed.

 

[allyphoe]

My DD6 (going into first grade) picked out light-up shoes for her back-to-school shoes. The ones she chose were these: http://www.shoebuy.com/pi/strid/strid320208_177029_jb.jpg

I let her pick her own stuff (within price reason, and within the school dress code), because if she doesn't like something, she won't wear it, and there's no point in buying clothes she won't wear. DD is hugely self-confident when it comes to personal style, though, and has never shown any interest in wearing something just because other people did.

As far as teasing goes, kids who want to tease your kid will always find something to tease your kid about.

 

[mikkishelles]

I agree. Again, I seriously doubt he'll get teased in 2nd grade and if the older kids don't like them, they'll really not pay attention since he's younger.

OP, it only gets worse with the shoes. It used to be easy to go in and buy a pair of light-up Sketchers for my kids when they were younger. As kids get older, the cool shoes get way more expensive, and what was cool 6 months ago is no longer cool on the next shopping trip.

My 13 year old DD asked if she could have custom Vans for her back to school shoes which have to be ordered online. She got to design them herself (pink & purple with peace signs). I had a free shipping code but then found out Vans doesn't honor the free shipping on customs with this code! The shoes came to $71.56. I told DD no way, but then she said she'd pay $20 of her own money since I spent $50 on DS's new non-custom Vans shoes, so I agreed.

I guess it depends on where people live. In my neighborhood, kids started getting teased for their clothes and shoes in kindergarten. My friend's daughter refused to wear her Dora sandals because all the other little girls made fun of her. It's sad, I know, but I wouldn't set my kids up for ridicule.

 

[CathrynRose]

It's sad, I know, but I wouldn't set my kids up for ridicule.

The thing is I would never, ever tell my child to try and blend in, and do what the other kids do - especially if they really like something - just to fit in. No way.

That sets them on a peer pressure road for the rest of their life, and with drugs, drinking, and other things down the road, I want my child to be able to say "kiss it" about the shoes/clothes he likes, and say "No" when asked if he wants to get high.

KWIM? Just my opinion, of course.

 

[Mauldita]

I would say maybe 72?

If he likes them, you can afford them....who is it hurting?

Kids make fun.....he's his own person.

I dressed how I wanted and very different (Goth in the 80's) and took college courses in HSchool, so I was with all the kids that were known as "preppy". I never had problems. They accepted me (because I accepted them! hehe).

Liz

 

[MissyDVC]

The thing is I would never, ever tell my child to try and blend in, and do what the other kids do - especially if they really like something - just to fit in. No way.

That sets them on a peer pressure road for the rest of their life, and with drugs, drinking, and other things down the road, I want my child to be able to say "kiss it" about the shoes/clothes he likes, and say "No" when asked if he wants to get high.

KWIM? Just my opinion, of course.

Me too & we live on Long Island where status "means" a lot and some kids are hard on others, but I won't teach my kids to not be individulsl and only be followers. But that's just me

 

[bookgirl]

I have light up flip flops.......I'm about to turn 43.

 

[moosebug]

I thought they were so cute! I googled them and bought my son a pair! He's 4!
I just wanted to say thanks!

 

[mjkacmom]

I guess it depends on where people live. In my neighborhood, kids started getting teased for their clothes and shoes in kindergarten. My friend's daughter refused to wear her Dora sandals because all the other little girls made fun of her. It's sad, I know, but I wouldn't set my kids up for ridicule.

I'm very close to where you live, and couldn't agree more - it starts here in kindy. One poor boy was teased by bullies all year because he wore batman jammies on pajama day. Usually the mean kids have older siblings.

 

[labdogs42]

I think this is the perfect opportunity to teach a child to be an individual and to not worry about what other kids think. He should be able to wear whatever shoe he likes.

exactly. Telling kinds things like "other kids will make fun of you" is just a bad idea.

My son has those Police light up Sketchers and he loves them! He's 4.5.

 

[CathrynRose]

exactly. Telling kinds things like "other kids will make fun of you" is just a bad idea.

.

Well - kinda yes and kinda no.

When my son wanted those obnoxious, blinding shoes I posted earlier, I did say to him "You know, other kid's might think these are a little loud" ...just a forewarning, so he's not caught off guard. But then added "but if you like them, I'd get them"

KWIM?

But, just like anything, the best compliments are from complete strangers, and I can not even tell you how many people - kids and adults - have stopped him and asked him where he got them.

I just really would allow him to get the shoes he likes! And quite frankly, at his age, you'll be lucky if they even fit after Christmas anyways - for how fast they grow at that age, and he can get a different pair in a few months.

 

[java]

I thiiiiink we got them at dogfunk.com, last fall maybe ????

He's got a Nike Neon pair too, but I can't find a pic of those online. But they're really similar to the DC's but black instead of the gray, like the DC's.

I don't know if DC's are unisex?? I dunno....but it's another example of *wear what you like*

They do have girls/women shoes too. My dd has a pair although she is favoring the Marc Ecko stuff lately.

I saw a boy wearing the same shoes as your son's pair and I loved them! And to me it said cool kid! Walking to his own drum beat. And I love that! I often say I married dh because he wore a pair of green sneakers!

 

[CathrynRose]

They do have girls/women shoes too. My dd has a pair although she is favoring the Marc Ecko stuff lately.

I saw a boy wearing the same shoes as your son's pair and I loved them! And to me it said cool kid! Walking to his own drum beat. And I love that! I often say I married dh because he wore a pair of green sneakers!

Umm...I think they do. Lemme go look.....

Yeah, they have girls: http://www.dogfunk.com/dogfunk/subcat/40/Womens-Shoes.html

I had never heard of them. Danny found those shoes, looked them up online and found them, there. I have to say, I was worried (just because I had never heard of them) but they shipped crazy quick, and send periodic emails with order codes, and such. I think it's a good company, with fun stuff.

 

[ladyleslie]

I work for the NYC Dept of Education grades prek thru 6th grade. Its not uncommon to see light up shoes even through to the sixth grades. I hear the boys give each other more slack for the team jerseys and sports apparel they wear than shoes.