In toddler and little-kid fashion, there are three main types of summer shoes that you will see on every playground: Keen sandals, Crocs, and Natives. All three are good in water, colorful, and easy enough to slap onto a chubby foot that’s covered in sand. My son has been wearing a pair of Native Jefferson sneakers every single day for the last three months. And today they are on sale in a bunch of different colors and various sizes at both Amazon and Zappos for as low as they ever go: $25. I like this pair of tonal orange Natives because they’ll also transition nicely into fall — just remember to size up if you’re planning to have your kids wear them with socks.
And if you click around a bit you can find similarly discounted pairs in a nice bottle green, bubblegum pink, light blue with yellow, and several adorable patterns. Though we do own a pair of tiny Crocs, the Native Jefferson sneakers have a flatter and more stable bottom that makes them easier for my 18-month-old son to walk in without tripping. They are just as soft and pliable as Crocs and nicer-looking too. They are also super-easy to clean: I just rub a little dish soap inside and then run them under the faucet.
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