This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stride Rite for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
Kids are fun. My kids are always doing something fun. Kids brains are primarily focused on how to make the best of their time while also making it super enjoyable. It is funny that most adults try all their lives to reach pure happiness while kids are so good at it naturally. Kids are made to play and I think that the Stride Rite Made 2 Play Collection perfectly exemplifies that.
My daughter is a seriously busy little girl. If she isn’t belting out the songs of her favorite cartoon or movie she is probably getting into something outside. We just moved from FL to WA and both states have their challenges. When I first told people I was moving to WA everyone was telling me to prepare for #alltherain, but honestly… It rains more in Florida in my opinion. Like, seriously. That being said we live across the street from the beach so we often run around near the water’s edge and in turn my kids tend to soak their shoes. I love that these Stride Rite Made 2 Play® Aqua Sneaker are water-friendly.
The colors are super bright. They are made of a leather and mesh material that are completely machine washable and quick drying. They also have a dirt-shedding outsole, anti-stink linings, reinforced durability at the toe and a convenient hook-and-loop closure for adjustability. They also have memory foam insoles for extra comfort. Awesome right? Did I mention they are BRIGHT?
What I think I love about this shoe the most is that it gives parents the permission to let their kids be kids. So many times I see parents telling their kids not to go play in the puddles and not to go play in the dirt (I, too, am guilty.) but that is all kids actually want to do. If I think back to my childhood I think that playing in the water puddles and the dirt is what made life AWESOME.
I look at my oldest son (who is completely addicted to video games) and I can honestly say that I wish I would have told him to go play in the dirt a little more. It isn’t too late. We force him outdoors every chance we get now.
The idea behind these shoes goes a little deeper for me than the everyday pair of easy-to-wash shoes. It is almost about empowerment. Stride Rite taken all the challenges we, as parents, face when thinking up reasons for our kids to stay “clean”. Because of the anti-microbial and anti-stink mesh lining I don’t care if my kids go sock-less. I don’t care if they play in the dirt and mud because they can easily be popped into the washing machine. I don’t care if they go kick rocks in the driveway because of the reinforced durability at the toe.
I have no excuse to tell my kids not to go and just be kids. Life is simple and they get it. Now I do, too!
My daughter actually likes feeling independent so the Grip & go strap makes shoes easy for her to put on & take off by herself! That is a win, win in my book because she loves to switch her shoes out all day long and if there is a pair that she can do all by herself, MORE POWER TO HER! No wonder these shoes get high user ratings!
Kids just wanna roll around in the grass, ride a cute quad, swing, slide, or even just draw on the sidewalk with chalk. There will be some obstacles that will be in their way like water and dirt or whatever, only they aren’t obstacles for kids. We shouldn’t look at them as obstacles either.
You can purchase Stride Rite shoes online or at local retail stores. Use the Store Locator tool to find the nearest store. I also have a fantastic discount code for you! From June 1-June 30 you can use the code Laura20 to get 20% of your order. There are tons of awesome styles in the Stride Rite Made 2 Play for boys and the Stride Rite Made 2 Play for girls line, so I am sure that you will have an easy time finding something you love! You can also find out more about Stride Rite products by visiting their Facebook and Instagram pages!
Tell me in the comments below: What is one fun thing you did as a child that you don’t see happening as often now? For me it was playing in ditches. As gross as that sounds, I had some of my fondest memories playing with my friends in ditches catching tadpoles.

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