Check your kids boots!

Last night I cracked up when I read a friend's , Dr. Michelle Colon, post on Facebook. She is also a podiatrist and she said her Daughters Ugg boots had a hole in them. So she posted...I gave her an early Christmas present, and be sure to check your kids boots.

I laughed OUT LOUD! Then I checked my kids boots. You won't believe what I found:

1-Check the insole- One boot was missing the insole! My son had been walking on this hard sole of the boot with no cushion and no arch support. When I asked him about it (he is seven) he said "Oh I think it came out at some time." Really?

2-Check the sole - My younger son wore his boots a lot last year and while they are still OK, they are pretty worn. I think he can hold out a few weeks, but good thing I checked them..now I have a verifiable excuse to hit the after Christmas sales!

3-Check for holes - Nope my kids didn't have any but if your children do, get out immediately and purchase new ones. In a climate like ours in Chicago, you can get frostbite with just 15-20 minutes of exposure...sometimes less!

4-Check the fit - I had both my boys put them on. My older son is really nearing the point of needing a bigger size. I checked this just by having them stand in the shoes (with the thick socks they would be wearing to play in the snow) and used my thumb to see where their toes hit. If you can't fit your thumb between the end of the longest toe (often this is the 2nd toe, NOT the big toe) and the shoe then it's time to upsize.

5-Check the lining- If the lining of the boot gets too thin...it likely isn't keeping those piggies warm any more. Again, another reason to hit the sales.

If you have any other questions about kid's shoes or boots, be sure to post them here!

Should my child run?

This is a question I get frequently. The answer is a definite maybe! My 8 year old son just ran his first 5k, our local Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot in Elmhurst. He ran it faster than my first- 30:32! When I excitedly told him we had hit the 2 mile mark, the look on his face was priceless. He thought we were almost done...but he pressed on to an impressive, strong finish!

Seriously though running is great for physical fitness and mental wellness. While each individual situation is different, for the most part running is just fine for children but there are certain things to take into consideration:

1-Shoes, shoes, shoes...oh and did I say shoes. They need running shoes just like us adults. I am not talking stride rite gym shoes here. You should go to the running specialty store and purchase the same quality shoes as you do for yourself. They are going to set you back about $50 or $60, but will save you more than that in the long run. Oh and don't forget to track them just like you would for yourself. 300-400 miles or 6 months max. Don't worry, they will likely grow out of them before that anyway!

2- Mileage should be really low for anyone under 12. I think a few 1-2.5 mile runs are the most a child should do. When they get up into middle school you can increase days as well as miles and into high school...well those cross country teams run some serious mileage.

3-Start Slow! We want to give their bodies time to get used to the pounding of running. Start them off with a trip around the block, then 2. Ease up to a mile and celebrate with a local kids 1 mile race (lots of bigger races are incorporating them). Then slowly increase until they are ready to take on their first 5k.

4-Run with them --running is a great family sport and can be good bonding as our children get older. It's also a lot safer too!

5-Sign them up for a running club. Many schools and park districts have running clubs. These are specifically designed for children and can ease them into the sport nicely. Plus they will very quickly learn about the community aspect of running.

The most important thing is to remember that if they get injured to bring them in to the doctor right away. Delay in treatment can make healing them all that much more difficult.