APMA Launches New Children's Foot Health Campaign

(c) APMA

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) launched a new online educational resource for medical professionals and parents. The "First Steps: Keeping Kids' Feet Healthy and Happy" campaign aims to educate the general public about the importance of maintaining children's foot health at all ages, and the role today's podiatrist plays in promoting positive foot health. Pain-free feet are the first step in making sure children stay active and healthy.

"The most critical stage of the foot's development is during a child's first year, when feet grow rapidly. It's important that parents pay close attention to children's feet even before they start to walk, beginning at birth and continuing as they take their first steps, go to school, and participate in sports."

APMA President Frank Spinosa, DPM  

Don't let a child's foot pain stop them in their tracks. Today's podiatrists are uniquely qualified among medical professionals to treat the complex structure of the foot and ankle, based on their level of education, training, and experience. They can provide guidance for keeping children's feet healthy at all developmental stages and treat any injuries or abnormalities.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is the nation's leading professional organization for today's podiatrists. They have created a suite of education materials as part of the First Steps campaign, including an online resource page, poster, brochure, videos, and a Pinterest board of children's products that have earned the APMA Seal of Acceptance.

Examples of School Uniform Policies

As a reader of this blog, your child likely attends a school with a uniform policy or a uniform dress code. Most school's now post their policy online on the school's website or the PTA website.  Please take a minute and add a link to your school's written policy.

In the comments below, share with us:

1. What type of school? Public, Private, Charter, Parochial, etc.
2. Where is the school located? City and State & Country if you are outside the US.
3. URL Link to the school's written policy:

(image used with permission from Microsoft)

Celebrating National Foot Care Month

Does your kid need new kicks for school?

The American Podiatric Medical Associations promotes April as National Foot Care Month.  They conducted a national study conducted in 2012 that investigated teenagers' attitudes toward their overall foot health.  Here are a few key findings:

• Only about half of teenagers see feet as important to overall health; few recognize their complexity and the need for expert care.
• Teenagers are just as diligent as adults (or in some cases, more so) in caring for their bodies, except their feet.
• Most teens participate in some type of sport, and of them, almost 4 in 10 say they have injured their feet doing so.
• Two in 10 suffer from foot pain from uncomfortable shoes – girls more so than boys. High heels are the most painful shoe choice. A third of girls say they would rather go barefoot than wear shoes!

Throughout the month, we will be celebrating shoes, socks, and foot care. Upcoming posts will highlight several affiliate vendors that carry school shoes and socks in the Retail Round Up Series.  We are participating in several shoe giveaways (Hotter Shoes and Mozo Shoes) this month.  You gotta enter to win and fans of Uniform Mom will find easy entries available.

Schoolbelles - Retail Round Up Series

Schoolbelles is a family owned business. They state that their “passion for uniforms is a legacy handed down since 1956 by our founder, Mary Carroll. Today, three generations have continued her tradition of manufacturing and providing high quality uniforms with great service for reasonable prices.” 

They work with over 1000 schools and organizations and have a team of representatives to assist with creating a uniform program. They are one of few uniform suppliers that operates their own sewing factory in Cleveland, OH to maintain quality and inventory levels. They offer a guarantee on their premium line of uniforms that items will hold up to 180 days of wear.  They are based in Cleveland with store locations across the mid-west.

Ohio Cleveland Cincinnati  Fairlawn South Euclid Toledo

Illinois Bridgeview Chicago North Michigan Madison Heights Westland

Indianapolis, Indiana Taylor Mill, Kentucky Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

They offer a full catalog of premium uniforms for all sizes (preschool through adult). They also carry value line items that work well with most dress codes. They are currently undergoing a redesign to evolve with the changing market. I will update this post after they launch their new website later this year.

Video Pick: School Kids Around the World

This video pick from charmichanify shows clips of "Public school children across the globe in their uniforms and dress codes".

Snow Days and Make Up Days

Because of the unusually harsh winter, many schools had a record number of snow closing and days with delayed openings this year.  In states where laws mandate a minimum number of instructional days, most schools have contingency plans in place to deal with snow make up days.  But this year, many schools have exceeded those options and local school boards are scrambling to adjust the school calendars.  So how is your school planning to make up the days?  I'm hearing rumors of schools talking about different options, such as:

• Converting the remaining teacher work days to snow make up days
• Shortening Spring Break to use those days as snow makeup days
• Scheduling select Saturdays to hold make up days
• Extending the length of the school day for remaining days for a few additional minutes
• Extending the school year into the summer

Has your school board decided how to schedule additional snow make up days?  Which option are they choosing at your school?  What other options are being considered?  Which option do you prefer?

(photo used with permission from Microsoft)

Vintage School Uniforms

I recently submitted a post over at Vintage Shopper.  It explores the British origins and history of school uniforms, how they came to be popular in the US, and how to wear and how not to wear a retro school uniform look today. 

• Did you know the origin of school uniforms originated in the U.K.during the reign of King Henry VIII?
• Did you know that Bill Clinton suggested that schools adopt uniforms in his 1996 state of the union speech?
• Did you know that a 2013 study conducted by Lands' End and the National Association of Elementary School Principals found that 49% of U.S. public schools have a school uniform policy in place or plan to implement one.

I invite you to check out my post over at Vintage School Uniforms.