O.k., so my dd's preschool teachers are trying to teach the kids to button, snap and tie. My dd is having a hard time learning to tie. She is only 4 1/2, and i am guessing she is not the only one in class that does not know how to tie. Is there a easy trick to teaching one how to tie their shoes? her fingers kind of get all jumbled and tied up. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips on teaching this.
TIA

By Marg on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 05:18 pm:

We always did the two bunny ears and slipped the one under the other. I really don't know how else to explain it. It taught them faster and they learned the other way on their own time!

By Colette on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 05:34 pm:

http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/1952.html

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 05:37 pm:

I wouldn't be too concerned if she doesn't get the hang of it this year. Many kids learn during Kindergarten, but others still don't get the hang of it until later. I'm almost embarrassed to admit neither of my kids (5 & 7) know how to tie their shoes yet. We're working on it! I wouldn't be surprised if DD (5) gets it quicker than her big brother. LOL! He has great fine motor skills so I don't know what his problem is. With slip on shoes being so popular now it's not really a big deal. I'm hoping peer pressure will encourage him to figure it out.

When I was teaching Kindergarten I found it was much easier and more successful to have kids teach each other. I sat them in pairs and let them go at it.

Shoe Tying Poems, etc.

By Dana on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 05:43 pm:

Here is a link I had saved. Can't say it helps much though. The other link I had was really nice, but no longer is there

http://www.freedomknot.com/flash.html

By Coopaveryben on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 05:57 pm:

Don't feel bad my 6 year old just learned, over the summer he wears velcro Teva's and we just always tied his church/tennis shoes for him.

But I did see an eposode of "Little Bill" and he learned to tie putting a large robe belt around his waste. It worked! The size helps them to get the concept and it is thick enough that they can see what is going on.

By Babysitbarb on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 08:20 pm:

The way we taught our girls was by using a bigger shoe like an adults shoe and it's easier for the to learn.

By Amy~moderator on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 12:22 am:

Chrissy, I like that idea!

By Mommmie on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 10:03 pm:

My 9-year-old still can't. He's dyslexic with some fine motor skills delay though. We're velcro shoes all the way!

By Mommyathome on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 10:28 pm:

My 5.5 year old can't tie her shoes yet. Unfortunately it's probably a lot my fault. I haven't sat down with her really tried to show her how. Maybe over the summer

By Joy~bundles on Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 12:22 pm:

DS (7-1/2) just learned to tie his shoes last weekend!! I bought his cleats for baseball (practice starts next week!) and they have shoelaces. DS suddenly became very interested and very determined to tie his shoes!! He's tried tying his shoes in the past but couldn't muster the coordination to do it. I wouldn't be concerned about her not being able to do it yet! When she's ready, she'll do it!