Tying shoes.

Sarh - posted on 12/14/2010

Amanda that is exactly what I have always done w/my shoe laces. I've always tied hers for her and the only way I know how to tie is the "around the tree" method. I wasn't sure if the Around the tree method would be too difficult, but I will give it a try. I'm sure there is not a set age, but I didn't know if all/majority of the other kids her age or younger were doing so. Thanks! :)

Amanda - posted on 12/14/2010

My son will be 7 this month. He actually JUST learned how to tie his shoes! I don't tie mine, I just knot right at the top hole and tuck the extra lace in, and he just kind of picked up on that, but in order for his shoes to stay on during PE at school he needed to tie them. I started with bunny ears, but ended up using the around the tree method with only one loop lol. He caught on quickly and now knows how to double knot. It took him about a week to really get it down though. My daughter who is 4 and in preschool she tries to tie her shoes but ends up running out of patience! Lol Just keep practicing with her she'll get it! But I don't think there is a set age for shoe tying...pretty much when they are ready to sit down and learn! Which sometimes takes awhile! Kind of like training wheels on their bike! :)

Sarh - posted on 12/14/2010

Thanks ladies.
I've never put her in Velcro shoes, I don't like them, but every parent does things different. Maybe she gets the hang of it because she has been watching me...? Also, she is the one that came home one day and said "Mommy, can you teach me how to tie my shoes", so now before we go somewhere I try to have her get her shoes on w/enough time for her to try on her own.
Jaime, the standing behind her and having her watch and do the other shoe is a great idea!!

Laura - posted on 12/14/2010

My son is 4 1/2 and I tried to teach him once but he gets so frustrated learning new things. The thing is though he has only had velcro shoes. So far he hasn't needed to learn how to tie. There are so many basic skills you don't even think of teaching them until some one else points it out :)

Jaime - posted on 12/14/2010

My great grandma taught me how to tie my shoes long before kindergarten by standing behind me and tying one shoe slowly while I mimicked her on the other. It was a completely different story with my brother. He has something like dyslexia or ADHD and he couldn't pay attention long enough. Also, my mom didn't really try to teach him. He only learned how when I taught him when he moved in with me and our grandparents. He was about eight before he finally got it down.

I used to work at a Shoe Carnival where one of the other employees taught kids how to tie their shoes. I wish he had given me some tips but I don't think you'll have any problem with your daughter if she's already getting it.

I don't know what the "bunny ears" method is, honestly. I was just taught how to tie my shoes like a grown-up and have done it ever since. It wasn't hard for me. I always double-knot my laces, too, because it really doesn't matter how tight you get those things, sometimes they'll just fall loose in minutes! I recommend soft flat fabric laces. They're the easiest to work with.

Hope that helps!