It's back to school time, when parents traditionally make the trek to the shoe store and fight with their kids over what to put on their feet in front of disgruntled shoe clerks. But times have changed: Now we can argue over kid's footwear in front of a laptop. Now THAT is what I call progress!

Truth is, parents have a preciously short window where they have complete control over their kid's footwear. Thankfully, shoes for preschoolers and kindergarteners are adorable. Better take advantage of this opportunity to buy some cute shoes for the kids while you still can. I'll get you started with some of my favorites:

Stan by Vincent $47.95

These shoes are the best for preschoolers - the huge velcro tongue is a snap for kids to open and close, so when they take those first steps to independence they can do it quickly and efficiently and you can get out the door in time. Hopefully.

GEOX Kids Jr Rocket D $69.00

We're unapologetic GEOX fans at my house -- and why not? The shoes are durable, reasonably water-resistant, and because of the magically breathable insole they don't develop the infamous "little boy sneaker stink." (If you have boys, you know what I'm talking about.) They hold up so well, we've saved them as two boys have outgrown them to pass on to the third boy - so while the price might seem steep, it's actually a bargain. Think long term!

Vans Authentic for Girls $32.00

They're Vans. They have pink and purple monkeys on them. Awesome. I think monkeys just might replace the pink skull and crossbones of the previous years. At least I hope so.

Diadora Veneto Indoor ID Indoor Soccer Shoe $25

If your kids are soccer-obsessed, these "indoor" soccer shoes will tide them over until they can leave the classroom and hit the field. Also? They're adorable.

TT Larissa at Stride Rite $55

Oh the nostalgia! Shiny black patent Mary Janes are a back to school classic - I remember when my mom would buy me shoes like these - but these have an "airbag" in the heel for comfort, so your little girl isn't slowed down when playing tag in the school yard.

BeautyHacks Contributing Editor Miguelina also blogs here.