I need some fresh ideas about how to teach my 6 1/2 year old to tie her shoes. I have tries making a shoe out of a box by punching the holes across the top and running a shoelace through them to let her practice on, the little rhymes like make the bunny ear, buying those lace up cards at walmart, and just letting her practice on her own shoes. Nothing seems to be clicking with her. I am getting so frazzled because I know she could do it and I can tell it is upsetting her also because almost all the kids in her class can tie their own shoes.
One of the best things I've seen for this was a book and some shoelaces that came together in the package. Each shoelace was divided into two colors, so when you made the loop, that end was a contrasting color from the other one you would wrap around it. The Book was instructional, but I'm sure you could just do the same thing with regular laces and fabric paint or dip them like easter eggs into some food coloring or Rit dye.
Don't stress about it. She will figure it out. Until she does just get shoes that have a Velcro closure or sandals.
There is a way to cheat when tieing shoes. We all know the rabbit through the hole thing, but have you tried the double bunny ears? Do the knot, then make bunny ears on both sides and do a knot again. It isn't the "correct way," but that is how my daughter started. She had the confidence that she could tie, and eventually graduated to the typical way of tieing. Good luck!
My last 2 kids came home from school showing me how they taught them there. They'd cross them and under before starting the bow. Then they took both loose ends and make a loop with each and then crossed them and under. Wala....a bow. It was easier than teaching them the one loop method.
J.,
Try making 2 bunny ears and tying them in a knot.
It is much easier than looping one lace around the one loop.
L. G
Hi,
I had a hard time teaching my son to tie his shoes - he is a lefty and I am not and we just didn't click on this. He did finally learn - his friends at school taught him. :)
Don't despair - she will learn and it will just make sense to her one day. I have yet to meet an adult who did not know how to tie shoes. It just takes some children longer than others. My boy was 7 1/2 when he finally got it. In the meantime there is velcro and slip on shoes. Don't let it stress it out - if you are stressed and frustrated when you try to teach her she sill pick up on the negative emotions and maybe think she is doing something wrong. Just let it go for a little while - it will be okay.
Peace
L.
Greetings J.!
My kids had a little trouble at first. Then one day, my son just disappeared in his room for an hour. He came out able to tie his shoes. However, this is the unique way he learned. He had on a pair of drawstring shorts. He sat there and played with it until he got it. It is a good way for them to learn, I learned later, because of the way it is positioned and that the pants don't move or slip. Don't worry, she will get it. My daughter, his twin sister, was a little late too, but she eventually got it by the age of 6 1/2. (Which was just recently.) Somethings just take, a little extra time, and a huge amount of patience!
Take care! ~Lee
P.S. Does her gym teacher teach this too? Ours did. You may want to ask her for any special tricks they use at school and practice at home!
