My 4 year old recently grew out of the first pair I got him and I just purchased another. Even thought he wore the first pair daily at preschool they're still in great shape. They may be one of the few shoes from this age I pass on to a friend. Not only are they sturdy but he is able to put them on easily by himself. He had trouble with a bulkier pair of New Balance sneakers. The sole of this shoe is nice and flexible unlike a lot of "skater" type shoes. Also, I think he's much more comfortable sitting on the floor at school without the bulk of a running shoe. I think the fit is a very good balance for kids that are growing out of their plump baby foot. We didn't have problems with the length of the velcro or the width of the shoe. My son's foot is slightly wide but a wide sized shoe is too big for him.