How Did You Teach Your Child How to Tie His/her Shoes - and What Age?

Updated on October 21, 2010
S.J. asks from Cherryville, MO
15 answers

What age was your child when you taught him or her to tie his or her shoes, and how did you teach this skill?

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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

I saw this rhyme and have saved it to use for my son in a few years. I hope it helps you:

Two little bunnies want to tie their shoes. (make loops with each end of the lace)
Need each other to know what to do. (hold them to make them the same size)
Right over left, left over right (show how to tie a knot using the loops)
Tuck their ears and pull real tight. (pull the loops)

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B.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

All kids learn differently. My mom showed me over and over and over and over, etc. After I had finally learned and could do it my self, I was repeatedly told I tied my shoes backwards. I'm guessing that's how I saw my mom tie my shoes from my position.

FYI: Intelligence has nothing to do with how soon or how well you tie your shoes. Einstein NEVER learned to tie his shoes. When he was a world reknowned scientist and proclaimed to be the smartest man in the world, he wore slip ons because he didn't know how to tie his shoes.

Good luck to you and yours.

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J.W.

answers from Kansas City on

All three of my kids learned when they were around 6 years old (mostly because they felt it easier and faster if I did it). The first two basically just watched me do it and started doing it on their own and for the last one, we got this thing called TieZ's and she had it down in just a few days. You can get them at www.tiezs.com. They are like snaps that you put on your shoelaces and you make the snaps meet to tie your shoe. It is actually very neat. Good Luck!

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D.M.

answers from Dallas on

After a really hard battle with my first child (he finally mastered the tying somewhere around the age of nine) I learned that the best teacher is all the other kids learning to tie their shoes. I helped a little starting around four, but I never made it an issue with my other kids. My daughter was six and my other son was almost seven. All kids are different.

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L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

My son had lots and lots of shoes with velcro closures. He did not learn to tie on his own until he was in almost the 4th grade - up until then either I did or the little girls in his class tied them for him.

:)

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S.L.

answers from New York on

I think my first two kids were five and a half, that's an average age- but my youngest who is now five and a half wears a lot of velcro and we havent worked on it much. I'm just concentrating on teaching him the first step but he only wears non velcro shoes when he wears cleats! so velcro is really slowing us down! but I love it!

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L.L.

answers from Orlando on

my daughter was a late learner. it took her a while to get it. she was 7. but partly my fault i could have worked with her more.

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B.C.

answers from Joplin on

Both of my kids had a hard time learning, my son was in 3rd grade when he finally learned and it was pretty much he had no choice in the matter because we were having a hard time finding shoes that would velcro any more. My daughter just learned this past summer she was technically 9, but just turned 10...I was VERY blessed that her grandma who has the patience of a saint worked with her and was able to teach her in one sitting and just had her practice until she got it...this is not typical, but with my daughter we also had a lot of difficulty with her learning how to do buttons, snaps and zippers...she had to have lots of extra help with manipulatives and I still cannot get her to hold a pencil correctly without an aid.

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Our daughter was 5 and learned from a little boy in her kindergarten class..

K.I.

answers from Seattle on

I taught my oldest kids and nephews, each around the age of 5, the standard way...one loop, not bunny ears...and it was pretty easy...but now it is my (just turned last week) 7 year olds turn and he still hasn't gotten it :(

S.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

My children had buckle shoes, not ties.
However, I remember my mother trying to teach me
to tie my shoes somewhere around age 5 or 6
and I couldn't get what she was trying to show me.
And then my dad showed/taught me and it was easy as pie.
Her way of tyiing was impossible for me to copy
but his was was easy and not frustrating.
Good luck.

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Between 3 and 4.
The rabbit runs around the tree into his rabbit hole. :)

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

For my son it came down to motivation. He did not want to take the time to learn, until this last time he needed new shoes and I told him he would have a much larger selection if he could tie. I got a pair of his dads shoes since they are bigger, and made sure he sat behind the shoe so he would be at the same angle as if he was wearing one. I just went through it step by step until he got it. He just learned a few months ago, he is 6.

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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

every child is different . my mom said I learned at age 3 (which i would say is NOT the norm). the average age no a days is closer to 7-8 years esp. since many kids wear velcro shoes.

as 8kidsdad said it has nothing to do with intelligence. it has to do with motivation, practice, and fine motor coordination.

hope that helps!

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H.H.

answers from Kansas City on

2 of our kids were 5 and think the 3rd one was 4 or close to 5. I would have them sit on my lap or beside me with a shoe and show them and then help them try it and it didn't happen overnight but they would practice until they got it.

It is awkward for them to watch from the other side and figure it out, makes it easier if they are sitting beside you or on your lap and you can help them as you are getting the same perspective as they are.

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