I seem to ask my daughter where her shoes are almost everyday. She has several pairs of shoes so it always baffles me when we can only fine a few half pairs. Somewhere from the living room to her bedroom is the Bermuda Triangle for shoes. By the time I found one of her dress shoes she already grew out of them. Socks are worse. Sock disappearances are a family problem. However, shoes seem to be a problem each time a child first learns to take them off and put them on for herself. So what is the solution of not being able to find your preschooler’s shoes?
Solutions to Missing Shoes
Designated drawer. Keep a drawer that is safe for your child to open designated for shoes. It will keep the shoes off the floor and in one place. You could even put socks in there as well.
Shoe box. Get a crate type box and with a permanent marker write “shoes”. Simple as that have all the shoes go into this box. You can place it in her room or by the front or back door. I recommend the door you use the most for coming and going. The shortest distance a child has to carry or find shoes the better.
Candy bribe. You can use this plan with any method you chose or by itself. It works like the room fairy. You randomly ask your child to get her shoes. If she can find both, then she gets candy. Since she doesn’t know when candy is coming she will always be ready.
Shoe chart. Keep a chart and apply a sticker for each day your child can find her shoes. Give double stickers if she finds them on days you are going out. At the end of a designated time if she gets enough stickers she earns a prize.