Hi Moms-
I have 6 yr old twins and every day I make sure my kids' shoes are double knotted. I have tried to be patient and teach them how to tie their shoes but it is hard to explain! Does anyone have any ideas or recommend a book or video or any advice would help! The teacher has explained she doesn't have time to tie kids' shoes all day and I understand that.. Can anyone help?? Thank you in advance!
There is a book with actual laces that is really helpful for this. It is called Red Lace, Yellow Lace by Mark Casey, Judith Herbst, and Jenny Stanley (Spiral-bound - Mar 1, 1996) I found it on Amazon.com T.
I have three kids. I gave up on shoes with lace that need
tying after my second child was born and my first on was
4 years old. There are so many different shoes at different prices that you don't have to stuck with shoes with lace. I don't even buy my shoes if I need to lace them and tie them. I have walking and running shoes that
I just have to pull tight with a sliding thing. Shoe
laces are just a nuance. I can't see any advantages of having them. They are not fashion and don't have to be fashion. It's not a skill you can make money with. It's
skill you can live without. Why bother? My kids eventually picks up the skill of tying shoelaces, but
I still don't bother with those shoes.
When I taught kindergarten, over winter break we would send home cardboard shoes with laces so the kids could practice. The ones who came back to school after break and could tie their shoes got a prize. From then on I told the ones who couldn't to ask the ones who could.
So I suggest you make the shoes and have them practice. Draw an outline of the sole of a shoe onto a piece of cardboard, use a hole punch for the holes where the shoe laces go, and lace them up just like you would a tennis shoe. Sit side by side with your child(ren) so they are looking at the shoe at the same angle as you and slowly demonstrate, over and over and over again. I would start with the double loop technique--make the first cross over tie, like you are getting ready to tie a package, then make the two bunny ears and tie them together. It's not the prettiest, but it is the easiest way to do it. Good luck.
There's a Blue's Clues episode where everyone is getting ready in the morning and there is a cute little song about how to tie your shoes. The episode is called "Morning Music" and it's available as a bonus episode on the "Bluestock" DVD. You might be able to find it at the library.
My daughter needs to learn to tie her shoes too. If the Blue's Clues song doesn't work for her, I'll be looking for this book "Tie Your Shoes: Rocket Style/Bunny Ears".
I used a bathrobe belt to teach my daughter. It was easier for her to handle then those tiny laces. Once she got the hang of it we moved onto the laces. I taught her the bunny ears method. Good luck!
This book ...Tie-Your-Shoes-Rocket-Style (available through Amazon) ... did the trick for my twins. I practiced every day until they felt comfortable. The different colored laces were the key.
Good luck,
V.
Dear T.,
I would use velcro shoes for now at school until they learn to tie on their own, however, I suspect that velcro shoes are part of the reason many kids don't learn to tie their shoes earlier.
My daughter had a doll with a little dress that had buttons, zippers, and laces. She would sit for hours and tie those laces. She's left handed, and for some reason she had a hard time getting the hang of tying her shoes, so I had my dad teach her...he's a lefty too.
She liked sitting on the floor and practicing on our shoes. It does take practice.
Best wishes!
Use velcro shoes until they can do it themselves. Get one of those books with the strings and pictures and instructions.
Velcro - Blessings.....
You might try doing the double loops then tying them together. I remember when my son was learning he couldn'g get the consept--but my stepdad sat down with him and patiently showed him how to do the double loops.
you may need to practice with a bigger ribbon. My mom taught me by using an apron tied to the back of a chair. I used to practice several times a day. As far as the teacher being upset, maybe get them shoes with velcro closures till they get better at bows.
J
Try having them practice with a large apron on the back of a chair! These big ties will be much easier for them.
Good luck!
Get velcro shoes for school and use the tie shoes at home on the weekends. Make a race of it, whoever gets done first gets a....whatever you decide.
It's just PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! They will get it if you teach them, and ask them to practice. Allowfor enough to get ready for them to ty to tie their own shoes. When "we moms" are in a hurry, it's easier to just "tie them" and be on our way. BUT..... they need to TRY to tie their own shoes, then you help if they cannot.
They will get it. Try to be patient a little bit longer :o)
~N.
my son is 6 too. Im trying to teach them as well. My son goes to O.T they are trying as well with him. What they are saying is. Do your X then cross under. ( this is part were having problem with.) let go and pull throw. Then make a bunny ear and tie around. pull up the other ear. Its really hard to teach it.
a
Not only velcro, but elastic strap style, and other slip ons exist.
Some kids find tying really hard, and some boys--like mine-- are just in too much of hurry to play, and they don't want to be bothered.
They should still learn to tie, but it doesn't need to be their shoes!
Do not take this as a personal attack, but I believe children should learn to tie their shoes at a much earlier age. My boys were taught to tie at age 3. Age 3 is the "sponge" age and you can teach them almost anything. You have a lot of good posts on what to do now, but I beg all moms that see this post to teach your kids very early, makes life easier for you and them.
