I barely opened up the box before my 4 year old daughter was trying to get these on her feet.  She loved them from the second she saw them online.  The thumb holds on the velcro band and on the back of the shoe are fantastic.  They make it very easy for her to get the shoes on and off.  She had gotten sick on her shoes a few weeks after she had gotten them, so I tested them out in the washing machine.  She was very upset thinking her favorite new shoes were ruined.  Instead, they came out great and looking like new.  I highly recommend these sneakers!