My six year old still doesn't tie her own shoe!!!

Sharon - posted on 11/30/2009

It is time he learns, because as he gets older he may see some shoes that look better with laces and will be afraid to wear them.

Catherine - posted on 10/16/2009

don't worry about it my daughter who is 8..just learned this year...I wasn't worried about it..she wore velcro shoes until she learned...

Clare - posted on 10/16/2009

my eldest son was 11 when he finally decided he could be bothered to learn to tie his own laces...i spent many an hour sitting with him and trying to get him to learn how to tie then but he would just say he didnt want to do it...

After getting ribbed at school by his mates cos he couldnt tie his own laces he finally came to me and said howd you do it? needless to say he is now a big boy lol

Kecia A. - posted on 10/15/2009

Just be patient & keep trying with her!

Amy J. - posted on 10/15/2009

Mine either! Most of her shoes have been velcro or buckle, so there really hasn't been a need. :O



Is your child a lefty, by chance? I remember back in the day when I was a kid, before velcro...LOL...I had a lot of trouble tying my shoes because I'm left-handed and both of my parents are rightys, and it didn't make sense to me. For whatever reason, I just couldn't get the hang of it. It'll happen, though - just keep practicing!

Marlene - posted on 10/14/2009

My child is going to be 8 next month. The problem: we get shoes that are velcro for convenience, and they don't have to learn how to tie. My daughter can probably do it but is lazy and I don't reenforce it. This year I bought shoes that tie and I have her practicing on longer strings. There is also a rhyme out there about tieing shoes, does anyone know it?? I hope this helps.

Kim - posted on 10/14/2009

you need to take it in small steps, and practice each step for several days before adding the next step. 1. put foot in shoe, 2. pull laces and do X, 3. do first pull, 4. make loops, 5. the complete tie, 6. the double knot



my little man could do all of the 1st 4 steps but could not get the final tie down. then I sat behind him so he was seeing my hands at the same angle he would be trying it. that was the key to success for us.

Sarah - posted on 10/14/2009

dont worry about it buy velcro or buckel and take the stress out of your life x

Chris - posted on 10/14/2009

Velcro.....great invention. Sorry, only kidding.....does she like SpongeBob? There is an episode about tying your shoes.....helped my son.....

Tonimarie - posted on 10/14/2009

mine just turned 7 yrs and just learned... she will when shes ready just keep practising

Stephanie - posted on 10/14/2009

I refused to buy my son shoes without ties until he learned to tie his shoes and be quick at it. It is just too easy to not be consistant when they have velcro shoes especially when you are in a hurry. He learned quickly.

Angela - posted on 10/14/2009

its ok,she will in time,my lil girl practised 4 months she got frustrated and upset and then 1 day she did it on my mums shoes,dont worry she will do it

Carrie - posted on 10/13/2009

dont worry my daughter is also 6 and she still cant do it.

Megan - posted on 10/13/2009

I have an 8 year old son who refuses to tie his own shoes. Everyone has tried to teach him, but he doesn't want anything to do with it. I kept buying him shoes he had to tie, but he just walked around with them untied. Even other kids saying something to him didn't matter. (He now has velcro shoes). He'll pick it up when he's ready!

Brittani - posted on 10/13/2009

My daugther will be 8 in march and she still acts like she cant tie them, but when im not looking or not around she can tie them, i think they just try to see how far they can push our bottons sometimes.

Stephanie - posted on 10/13/2009

I started by showing my son and watching how he did it. If it's that you're girl isn't completely getting watch where she's going 'wrong' and help her perfect her own technique. I learned with my son if he isn't picking up on what i'm trying to teach him right away, he gives up and doesn't want anything to do with it. In our case we have 45min car ride from work. he was trapped and "bored" so i had him practice and that day we were on our way to go grocery shopping. I told him if he could tire both of his shoes 4 times each correctly, i would buy him a box of poptarts (something i don't typically buy) and he did, in 45 min he learned to tie his shoes. be patient find what works best for your child and BRIBE THEM!! LOL good luck - Oh yea and we started with the shoes off his feet so he could watch me how i was doing it closely & i could watch him

Sabrina - posted on 10/13/2009

i made it into a song while explaining each step to her

Sheniva - posted on 10/13/2009

mayb try those books at the teaching stores. it look like a big shoe get 3 make it a game who can do it the fastets. you 0r them let me no if it works

Chelle - posted on 10/13/2009

Don't worry samuels 10 and he would rather have velcro shoes any day!



Even now he hates tieing shoes!

Jessica - posted on 10/12/2009

My son is at the top of his class and he will be eight in 2 weeks........and he has no interest in learning how to tie his own shoe......lol......he is just being stubborn...its okay...totally normal :)

Nicci - posted on 10/12/2009

That is normal stick to the same way everytime bunny ears crossing or through the hoop make it fun and persistance will pay off!

Tricia - posted on 10/12/2009

Don't stress it... I still tie my eight year old daughter's shoes sometimes. It comes different with all kids...

Dionne - posted on 10/12/2009

My son didn't start to tie his own shoes until he turned 8 years old. I showed him many times in the past but he just couldn't get it and then all of a sudden he tied his show by himself once and that got him excited enough to want to keep on doing it by himself, tell and show others that he could do it. You just have to be patient like the others have stated because every child develops at their own rate although I know how frustrating it can be.

K. Erin - posted on 10/12/2009

my 8 year old isn't in the slightest interested in how to tie his shoes, so I am bringing out the secret weapon...Spongebob singing about how to tie your shoes, i will try to keep you posted on how it goes.......it is irritating, i learned at three, my sister learned at two...i don't understand why he doesnt want to be self reliant...grrrr....

Dawn - posted on 10/12/2009

Mine either.

Miriam - posted on 10/12/2009

My son is 5 and I taught him about making two rabbit ears and make them go round. He learned, but he refuses to tie them, he just thinks is easier to ask momy or dady. I'm thinking, someday he will do it, when he thinks that that is a wordy task :)))))

Heather - posted on 10/12/2009

my son was 7.5 yrs old before he actually got it down, when he got into 2nd grade he noticed all the kids could do it and he wasn't going to be the only one who couldn't so he made himself learn finally, don't worry to much about it, it will come...good luck

Amy - posted on 10/11/2009

My son is 6 and he can not tie his shoes either. Even though he tries he can not grasp it. I just stay patient just like when I potty trained him. He will learn when he is ready. Meanwhile I send him to school is velcro shoes. Then at home we just practise on his play shoes. Don't give up.

Nadine - posted on 10/11/2009

Quoting Jaime:

My six year old still doesn't tie her own shoe!!!

I have tried and so has grandma on many ocassions. HELP! of course this is a little irritating (as I also have a 4 yrs old who needs his shoes tied too). Any advice on how to get her moving along????

She'll will learn when she is ready, just like potty training. My son just entered the 5th grade and is 10 years when his dad finally got him to tie his own shoes. I had tried for years to get him to, my son and I would just end up gettng pissy with each other. Give it time.

Paula - posted on 10/11/2009

My son is 12 going on 13. He is can't or won't either. Try teaching him. Nothing.

Sylvia - posted on 10/11/2009

My seven-year-old *can* tie shoes, given enough time, but refuses to wear shoes with laces. I figure one of these years when we go shoe shopping for school she'll see a pair of sneakers with laces that she really, really wants, and that will be the end of that ::shrug::

I think if I were you I'd stick with velcro/snaps/slip-ons, just to simplify your life!

Lisa - posted on 10/11/2009

My son is six and doesn't tie his own shoes either. I know how frustrating it is! I have tried and tried. My mother keeps buying him shoes with Velcro and I get so upset with her. He just refuses to learn and we both end up frustrated and exhausted. We are trying to practice every other day. Hopefully that will work!

Rachael - posted on 10/11/2009

My son who will be 7 in Dec. just learned to tie his, be patient, it will come.

Adele - posted on 10/11/2009

Hi Jaime, my daughter is nearly 7 and cannot tie her laces, each morning we make a game tying the laces we do 1 shoe each and I do it slowley as Libby watches me and then she does the other 1. we often do this again after school to see how well she remembers an it is slowley improvong.

Tracy - posted on 10/10/2009

get a chart on fridge, have them practice and when they tie their shoes the get a sticker of their choice on the board, after ten stickers they get a special treat or toy

Laura - posted on 10/10/2009

My daughter will be 7 in December and still has trouble tying her shoes. She can but always complains that they are too loose and wants me to do it for her. She currently prefers to wear her crocs. And she only started "getting" how to tie shoes in the last 6-9 months. You child will get there eventually, I promise.

Joanne - posted on 10/10/2009

My youngest didn't tie her shoes until she was in year 3. The more you try the less likely they are to get it. Velcro shoes are great and one day, hey presto they can just do it. Maybe it's a bit of peer pressure at school but why bother when mum can do it for me! Don't worry it will happen in their own time.

Kylie - posted on 10/10/2009

ive never bought velcro, thinking this will hold back their learning, but alas, my son just refuses, he leaves the tied laced done up and forces his foot in, as it takes too long to re tie the laces! grr i taught this kid to knit, in 5mins flat! tie a shoe lace? pfft no way....they are so tempramental hahaha

Renae - posted on 10/10/2009

Children learn at a different pace. Don't pressure her into it but make it fun!! It's not too late and eventually, she will get it!! Good luck!

Marjorie - posted on 10/10/2009

My 6yo daughter doesn't either! and she doesn't want me to teach her how to do that! she says it's too complicate and cries! so I give up!

Tanya - posted on 10/10/2009

Does your daughter have a close cousin or friend she hangs w/ a lot? You could pull the friend/cousin aside and ask him/her to nudge your daughter into learning. When I was 5 I learned how to ride my bike w/ no training wheels because my best friend helped me. She practiced w/ me and sat beside me on the ground while I cried when I skinned my knees.

Mary - posted on 10/10/2009

Don't give up, my son who is now 9 didn't learn to tie his shoes until last year. He purposely kept wanting the velcro shoes because he didn't want to learn how to tie shoes, but right before school started i bought him shoes that laced up and spent the entire week with him learning how. I took one of his shoes while he had the other, and i walked him through each step singing the over and under song, honestly i forget the song altogether now LOL But by the time school started he was lacing his own shoes. Just be patient, they ll learn when they are ready!

Stephanie - posted on 10/09/2009

I have a 7 year old who learned how to tie at 4....I also have a 5 year old who refuses to even try!! I feel your frustration

Theresa - posted on 10/09/2009

My 8 year old can't either. He's had velcro, or z-straps his whole life. I'm not concerned!

Pamel - posted on 10/09/2009

don't worry about that stuff like that will come some learn things like that slower then others put more focus on reading

Linda - posted on 10/09/2009

Sounds like they just like it when you do it! Try noy tying them and explain they need to tie them or they go untied. Tuff love.

Deana - posted on 10/09/2009

My husband made it into a game for my 4 yr old. He rewarded her with a small cookie after she learned each step. Needless to say, she learned in 1 hour how to tie her shoes. Make it fun for them so they don't think it's a chore. But when they figure it out, definatley make a big deal out of it then.

Kesha - posted on 10/09/2009

Have you ever heard of the butterfly???Pretend her strings are a butterfly whe you make the loop those are the wings and then you tie them together. It always works for my Kindergarten class. Try it and let me know.

Sharon - posted on 10/09/2009

My 6 year old is still learning too, slowly but surely.

Kayla - posted on 10/09/2009

Don't feel bad my 6 year old lil boy knows how too but thinks it takes him to long so wants me to do it for him. She will get the hang of it. Good luck!!