Parents who take their children to the beach regularly, or who are planning on taking their children to the beach on a vacation, should give some thought to beach shoes for their children. Though any type of shoe can be worn on the beach, there are shoes that are definitely more comfortable for children to wear on the sand, plus there are many beach shoes that have the added benefit of protecting children's feet both on the sand and in the water. Two popular children's beach shoes are:

? Wet/Dry shoesThese shoes, commonly known as 'Aqua Shoes' or 'Wet Shoes', have become very popular for children in the last few years. Keeping in mind that parents don't necessarily want their children to remove their shoes on the beach or while playing in the water, manufacturers came up with shoes that were just as effective wet as they were dry. These wet/dry shoes are made from very light, porous, stretchable material, usually nylon, that is strong but comfortable. They cover the entire foot for maximum protection, but are so light that they do not feel cumbersome to children when they are playing on the sand or when they are swimming. The soles of these shoes are thick enough to provide protection for children's delicate feet, but are not heavy, and the bottoms of the soles have gripping traction that works whether they are wet or dry, which helps prevent children from slipping. They are even made to float so that if they accidentally come off in the water, they are easy to find. You can also get these types of shoes for children with Velcro straps, making them much easier to put on and take off.
? Children's beach sandalsAlthough beach sandals are usually not made to be worn in the water, they can be very beneficial for protecting children's feet while they are playing on the sand. Beach sandals can be made from several different types of materials, but children's beach sandals are most often made from soft leather or soft rubber. Children's beach sandals usually have thick soles, and either two or three small straps across the top of the foot, with a heel strap, or one wide strap over the top of the foot and a heel strap to keep the shoe from slipping off. Children's beach sandals are light so that children can wear them comfortably, but strong enough to protect little feet from any sharp objects that may be hiding in the sand.

The bottom line is that you can make as much of a fashion statement with your beach shoes as you can with any of the other items in your wardrobe. If you live near the beach you should be able to find several shops that sell fashionable beach shoes, but if you live in an area that is nowhere near the beach, such as in the Midwest, you can probably find the best beach shoes by visiting web sites that sell beach clothing or beach shoes in particular.