The Petit Vagabond is full of surprises. Not only is it crafted from Cactus Leather, making it partially biodegradable and a great deal more sustainable than traditional leather boots, the Petit Vagabond style is a Goodyear Welted shoe, finishing it off as an item of heritage quality. 

As you may know, a Goodyear Welt is a specific method of welting the uppers to a shoe. This is performed by a strip of leather that is sewn around the bottom edge of a shoe, attached to both the insole and the upper. The welt can then be easily unstitched, which thus detaches the sole without damaging the rest of the shoe, meaning it can be replaced time and time again as it is worn down. In our case, we use a strip of specialised rubber welt instead of the leather. This type of construction has many advantages: a Goodyear Welted shoe is flexible, comfortable, durable and often more breathable than the average shoe. In addition, the welt enables shoes to be repaired over and over again, allowing each child they are passed down to to build up the highly desirable patina of a well-worn shoe over the years.

The Goodyear Welt method of craftsmanship dates back to 1869, when the machinery used to produce it was invented by Charles Goodyear Jr., and incorporates more than 200 steps, most of which are completed by hand, resulting in a pair of incredibly high quality shoes.

There are several different techniques for making children’s shoes, consisting of the Stitchdown method, Cemented, Side Wall Stitched, Blake / Blake Rapid and the Goodyear Welt method, which is a far more superior method, but also much more timely. Compared to the Goodyear welt construction, the other mentioned methods are less expensive methods of sewing shoes together that are predominantly used in Italy. Blake, for example, simply has a leather sole and no cork which makes the soles thinner, more flexible but also less comfortable to stand on. Moreover, the soles are more prone to get wet with these less superior methods of construction. 

The Goodyear Welt is a superior shoe construction method to Stitchdown, Cemented, Side Wall Stitched and Blake / Blake Rapid because it keeps your child’s feet much more dry and are ultimately more comfortable to walk in. On top of that, it can be repaired easily, whereas other construction techniques are much more difficult to repair and re-sole.

Overall, this is a fascinating technique that has been around for approximately 150 years. Today, with so many other construction methods on the market, only higher quality shoes still carry this kind of quality construction, and this is generally reflected in the product price.

Whether your child is starting school for the very first time, or returning to school after a wonderful summer vacay, let’s list out some of the things that can make this transition a little smoother. 

Good Reads 

During the summer, introduce some school-relatable books to keep the idea fresh in your child’s mind — and a great way to do that is to put relatable books on the bookshelf! These books about school adventures and antics make for a great read. 

Peppa’s School Day

Time for School, Little Blue Truck  

I Believe I Can 

Peachy and Keen #1: A School Tail

Fuzzy Takes Charge (Class Pets #2)

The King of Show-and-Tell

Matilda

Wayside School (Boxed Set)

Books like these keep kids learning, and remind them that a time of friendship, laughter, and unexpected discoveries lies ahead in the fall. In doing so, they help get young learners eager to put on their boots, show an interest in and excitement about the classroom, and grow a passion for learning that lasts a lifetime.

Routine 

It’s also a great idea to get a school routine in motion, before the time comes to actually return to school. If your child hasn’t been attending Summer School, it’s a great idea to establish a similar routine to that of the school year about a month before school begins. Firstly, just start talking to your children about school. It can also consist of getting them into bed early enough so that they can wake in time for school hours. Getting their little bodies well-rested and ready for school hours will keep everyone in much higher spirits. Having morning-snack and lunch at the same time each day also gets them in the rhythm. Kids do well with routines, so establishing a school routine early is really important for a smooth transition.

School gear 

Let your child participate in choosing their new school gear. This will get them super excited about the upcoming year and the thought of getting to put their new gadgets and outfits to good use. There are LOADS of fun supplies and accessories out there, but with that being said, keep in mind what they actually need for kindergarten / preschool. 

Your child’s school will most likely provide you with a list of items that your kiddo will need, so be sure to refer to that. Most schools also have lists of what not to bring - this is a really helpful tool.  It helps the teachers tremendously when those lists are adhered to.

Here is a list of suggested items to get you started if your school doesn’t have a list, or you’re feeling uninspired.

School Bag - having something personalised is a nice little touch, and what kiddo doesn’t love this! 

Lunch Bag - these Fluf lunch bags are great for school lunches, and weekend picnics. 

Lunch Box - there are so many bento boxes on the market, here’s a suggestion of 1 style that we like due to its superior non-leak feature. Bento boxes are a great way to get lots of different food types into young kiddos. 

Water bottle 

Sunscreen 

An assortment of practical shoes that are weather friendly.

• Warmer months - we feel strongly about always having our kids in closed-in shoes at school, these breathable and lightweight sneakers by Veja are a great option to keep your kids feet protected and cool. The velcro straps also make it easier for children who are learning to put their own shoes on. If you prefer sandals though, try this option that has a closed-toe.  
• Fall - we love our Dominic & Dempsey boots for fall because as the cooler months approach, you’ll rest assured your children’s feet are warm and protected and if there are some rainy days in the forecast, they’re covered for indoor and outdoor play. 
• Winter - we like to get a little festive in the winter months, and the Petit Vagabond boot in Red Earth fits the bill perfectly. A faux-lined sneaker for winter are also a great go-to. 
• Spring / rainy months - Spring is renowned to be wet, nationwide, so having a pair of rain boots on hand is definitely a good idea. We like these ones. For dry days, a sneaker or boot works wonderfully. 

Meet & Greet 

This can be really important for some children! Even if your child’s been at the preschool for years, they’ll most likely have a new teacher and a new classroom each year. Try to attend any preschool orientation days that the school is offering. 

Independent Young Learners 

Young children really love to assert themselves as a way to show their independence, and while we would never expect them to do everything on their own, it’s really important to encourage this age-appropriate independence. Real-life jobs allow kids to learn to take care of themselves.  It also gives them a really great feeling of accomplishment. 

Have your child help clean up after themselves after meals, pick their outfit for the day, dress themselves. While the goal isn’t to perfect a task, it will really encourage your child to work towards becoming more independent. 

Fun - the most important of all! 

All the research and preparedness in the world is great, but so is having fun as a family!  Keep up the special traditions that you and your family cherish. Reading together, having dinner together, taking a family walk together, visiting the park together — all of these things will keep you connected and having fun!