We have bought them several times over the past few years as standard socks. They fit my 8 year old daughter perfectly in a size 4. My 5 year old daughter in a size 12 can wear them although they are a bit longer for her. But that doesn't stop her from wearing them. It's a very soft material that feels like very thick pantyhose, but doesn't chafe or tear like regular pantyhose. I would say that they are more like the soft material that leggings are made of. We cannot wear thin tights at our school and they conform to our dress code material policy. In addition, the strip in the upper part holds the socks well, but does not pinch the foot too much and does not cause discomfort.