Exhibit 32.2

     The  undersigned  officer of The Stride Rite  Corporation  (the  "Company")
hereby  certifies  that the  Company's  quarterly  report  on Form  10-Q for the
quarterly period ended June 2, 2006 (the "Report"), as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission of the date hereof, fully complies with the requirements
of Section 13(a) or 15(d),  as  applicable,  of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  as  amended,  and that the  information  contained  in the Report  fairly
presents,  in all material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and results of
operations of the Company.  This certification is provided solely pursuant to 18
U.S.C.  Section 1350, as adopted  pursuant to Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002,  and shall not be deemed to be a part of the Report or "filed"  for
any purpose whatsoever.



Date: July 7, 2006                   Name:    /s/ Frank A. Caruso
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                                     Title:   Chief Financial Officer
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