HELP! Teaching my 4 year old son to tie shoes

[dvcfamily41801]

They are working on this in his classroom. Any suggestions, does anyone know of a site that might have a page or something I can laminate and put laces through that might be easier to start with know what I mean? Poor guy he gets the first 2 steps and gets all tangled up

 

[caseylouandtyler2]

I've seen a wooden puzzle with shoes on it and actual laces to tie. I think I saw it at the craft store not Michaels but the other one the name escapes me right now.

 

[Lewski709]

There are so many shoes out today that my little guy doesn't even have tie shoes, so he doesn't know how to tie either.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Some children at 4 years old don't have the fine motor skills necessary to tie shoes. I held one shoe and my daughter held her other shoe and I demonstrated over and over for a few days.

You could just let him make 2 bunny ears and cross them over and his shoe will be tied.

Lori

 

[MerryPoppins]

Lisa, you've hit the jackpot. This question is perfect for me to answer. I struggled with teaching this when I taught preschool. I also taught first grade and some of those kids were still struggling with the skill. I have several poems that might help. Different ones work with different kids. Practice yourself until you understand the poems. Then teach them to him.

Indian Poem

An Indian made a teepee (pull lace up and cross one under the other)
and it collapsed! (pull first "knot" down)
So he started another, (make first loop for bow)
and he took this string and went around it, (wrap other lace aroundloop)
and went inside, (push lace under new loop)
and there he had it! Two Tents! (pull loops for bow)

Another Indian poem

Build a tee pee
Come inside
Close it tight so we can hide
Over the mountain
And around we go
Here's my arrow
And here's my bow!

Sad Rabbit

Once there was a rabbit that was very sad because his ears were so long and narrow that he stepped on them all the time. One day a fairy landed on the bunny's head. She lifted up the bunny's ears and crossed them over like an x. Then she put one ear through the bottom of the x and pulled. Next, she made each long ear into a loop and made another x like before. She put an ear under that x and pulled again. From then on the bunny remembered how to tie his ears into a bow, and he lived happily every after.

Tying Shoes
(Sung to "Splish Splash I was taking a Bath")

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
Pull it through the hole
Criss Cross and go under the bridge (this is where you tie the loops together)
Now you made a Double Knot!!

Here are two books that might help. You can look them up on Amazon I bet. I'm not familiar with them, but I added them to my list when I heard about them.

Tie Your Shoes: Rocket Style/ Bunny Ears by Innovative Kids

Red Lace, Yellow Lace by Mike Casey

I also taught my kids to tie a shoe that was NOT on their foot. It's easier to tie if you aren't having to reach around your leg. Practice with an empty shoe and then graduate to a shoe you are wearing.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[CamColt]

Thanks for asking this...and thanks for the replies too.
Because of velcro shoes, my 7 yo cannot tie a shoe. We have been working on it recently and its almost as bad as potty training was.

 

[phins_jazy]

I agree with the bunny ear method. It's not how I tie my shoes but it works for dd. She's 4 too and just mastered it sunday morning before church. We practiced alot with her. She would do best when no one was watching her. Good luck to you. Don't give up.....it will happen before you know it!!!!

 

[huey duey & luey]

Also, you can get an old shoe and put 2 different colored laces. This sometimes helps children to get a better visual, and it is easier to explain because you can say either the red or blue lace.
Tara

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My BIL is 55 years old and he uses the bunny ears method to tie his shoes. It cracks me up!

Lori

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by CamColt
Because of velcro shoes, my 7 yo cannot tie a shoe. We have been working on it recently and its almost as bad as potty training was.

Potty training was a breeze compared to learning to tie shoes. We struggled and struggled and struggled with our DS9 to learn to tie his shoes. I'd get frustrated, he'd get frustrated, DH would get frustrated. It took a long, long time for him to accomplish this -- he was 8 when he finally mastered it. Fine motor skills have always been a bit tougher for him -- maybe that's part of the why. So glad that hurdle is finally jumped!!

Merry Poppins, thanks for the poems. I'm going to try them with DS3 when he's a bit older.

 

[pokiemomo181]

My 4 y/o grand-daughter has been tying her shoes for some time now. We just took one of my husbands shoes for her to practice on. They are bigger and the laces are longer. It didn't take long till she could do it on any shoe. It was cheap and it worked, so maybe it would for your child too.


Pokie

 

[CBRorBust]

Thanks so much for asking this! I was trying to teach my nephew how to tie his shoes just yesterday. He gets all confused and I couldn't remember those little poems when I needed them yesterday!

 

[DISshopkeeper]

An Occupational therapist spent one solid year trying to teach my DS how to tie his shoes. Unsuccessfully. But she would work with 2 DIFFERENT colored shoelaces, so it's less confusing. And they worked tying it around their thighs. Same concept as on a shoe NOT on the foot, but with the resistance needed.

 

[Suzy Mouse]

I have a book that I taught my DD with. I think it's called "Red Lace, Yellow Lace". It's really cute.

 

[always quiet]

I had a heck of a time trying to teach all 3 of my kids how to tie their shoes!! I have a stong left handed streak in me and hold the loop in the hand they can't work with (this is why my mom couldn't teach me - the hand she would use doesn't "work" for me!! ). Anyway, they were taught the bunny ears method in kindergarten....and guess what? My 2 daughters STILL tie their shoes that way!!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Thank you so much for the tips everyone!! I love the poems, I am going to print them out

 

[chesirechik]

I'm 24 and I still tie my shoes with the bunny ears method. My mom kept trying to teach me the other way, but I just couldn't get it. The paper boy taught me bunny ears!

 

[disney funseeker]

the book I have for my kids is called, "What will I do if I can't tie my shoe"

It teaches the bunny ear method.

 

[JulianneP]

Wow! Former JrK teacher here, they are really working on this in Preschool? Developmentally 4 year olds really don't have the fine motor skills to do this task. If your son gets to frustrated with this task stop and wait 'till he is five. He should be able to zip and button by four but tying shoes is difficult for this age. Not to say it can't be done.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I have 2 kids.....10 and 7 and my mom taught them how to tie! That was kinda nice!!!

BTW, my mom is like 70 something....and still ties "bunny ear" style!!!! (I never did)