Any tips or tricks you can share on this important milestone?
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Any tips or tricks you can share on this important milestone?
not tips, but will be watching b/c we are working on this too.
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Ditch the velcro shoes. Experts say this is the reason so many of today's kids are delayed in learning how to tie their shoes. Buy tie shoes from the very start -remember, kids learn mostly from watching us! When it's time to tie their own shoes, they'll catch on much more quickly – I promise!
Mom of three
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Have you ever googled "tying shoes"? I have. My son's shoes were constantly coming untied. His teacher at another time told him he was tying them wrong. A friend showed him how to tie his shoes except his version had so many knots it was all day to untie them…I got tired of it. He'd learned the chase-the-bunny method. I was looking for something better. And in fact just the other day I had a tweet about breaking out of the mold, tying this way (relating it to bigger issues LOL) but danged if I can find it.
If you google tying your shoes *I* get confused! Can't imagine what the process looks like to a beginner.
My son does this:
cross the laces, poke one through and pull tight
you know that half bow loop thing you make for "the normal way"? make two, one on each side.
now cross them like you would a single string in the beginning, poke one through and pull tight.
Its working.
If I find the tweet with the nice pics I'll share it.
I found this was a great time to watch my son learn to overcome frustration without mommy fixing everything for him. Taught me to butt out but be encouraging.
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No tips! My oldest son is still in the velcro stage.
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We just taught Tai as well. He gets easily frustrated so it helped that we had a couple of different ways to tie his shoes to give him options. Then he decided to come up with his own way. I say take it slowly. Maybe a few tries a day and keep at it until it becomes easier.
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Bunny ears!
There are some great ideas & resources at Parent Hacks.
This site is commonly referenced too:
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/shoelacetips.htm
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I second Darci's method. A Kindergarten student demonstrated it to me years ago. I had never seen it before & it blew me away….it is soooo much easier to do than the standard "chase the rabbit" method. My 5 1/2 year old, Ethan;o), just tied his shoe for the first time yesterday using Darci's method. I also agree with Mom of three…ditch the velcro. I had an 8 year old ask me to tie his shoes once because he was used to velcro. Good luck to you & Ethan!
Bren
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My son has motor processing issues, so this was quite difficult for him to tackle. His OT suggested lacing the shoes with 2 different colored laces or coloring each side of the lace with a marker. Also, it helps if they practice with a shoe that is not on their foot.
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I like Darci's idea too. Some of my kids taught themselves, others took forever.
We didn't do laces when they were younger b/c they would always untie them!
Toni
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I have had my dad teach both of my kids so far
That reminds me, it's past time for my younger son to learn.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kristenph
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I agree…..I used the bunny ears
method with my grandkids….have them practice on their own shoes so they don't have to "identify" with different laces…God bless, Pam
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I disagree with Anon. I LOVE velcro and wait until the child is 6 (we homeschool). I give them one of my tie shoes and from watching Because of Winn-Dixie they know the song Splish Splash.
This isn't the same wording but not sure where this came from
Criss Cross and go under the bridge
Then you got to pull it tight.
Make a loop but keep a long tail
That is how to do it right
Then you take the other string
and you wrap it 'round the loop
Pull it through the hole
Now you got the scoop
Criss Cross and go under the bridge (this is where you tie the loops together)
Now you made a Double Knot!
http://www.kinderthemes.com/Songsideasandchecklists.html has the one I'm using this time except I add pull it tight at the end. (And no double knot!)
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What great tips and tricks for learning to tie shoes you guys all have. Thank you so much for sharing! I am learning so much and have new ideas for ways we can practice.
Keep 'em coming!
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http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/assets/PDF/Bow_Tying_Lesson.pdf
I am using something similar to this for my son. I stapled the fabric to the back of a thick piece of wood we had. I took pictures of it so he could practice with out me if he wants.
good luck!
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great tips! this was one of my 6 year old's summer goals…. he has one week left and well, we haven't mastered the art of tying shoes quite yet! I'll show him the rhyme!
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Same way you get to Carnegie Hall. Practice, practice, practice.
Dian
http://www.GroceryShopForFREE.com
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I think I learned using red licorice – the long stringy kind.
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
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