Need help finding a site for pictoral instructions on how to tie a shoe for Autistic

[princessh]

I have a daycare and watch a child who is high functioning Autistic. I am looking for a website that gives picture instructions on how to do things like tie a shoe. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. I did a web search without any luck. TIA!

 

[SueM in MN]

I looked and could not find a good picture either. I found some drawings of the process, but they were drawings and most were from the point of view of someone tying a shoe that was not on their foot.
One thing I did find was this:

Shoe-tying. The shoe-tying task required children to tie their shoelaces in a standard bow. A task analysis was used to break down the shoe-typing procedure into 10 steps: pick up laces; cross laces; wrap one lace under the second; pull laces tight; loop first lace; loop second lace; cross both loops; wrap the first loop under the second; pull the loops tight; and produce a bow.

If someone had a digital camera available, it might work out well to take pictures of each step from the point of view of how it would look to the child as he was tying the shoe.

 

[mbb]

Skip the whole "bunny ear" references - it just confused our kids more..

You may have to break the process down even further, ie, what exactly is a loop? What is a bow? What is a lace? What is "tight" to that particular child?

And some kids have issues with the "smell" of sneakers, the "feel" of the laces, or having to pull on them... and simply getting that close to tie them properly may be overwhelming.

Our kids are almost 8, and tying still isn't on our radar..and that's just fine That's what velcro, zippers, and slip-ons are for!

Great point to take the pic from the point of the child, Sue..and if you can, use the child's own sneakers for the pics

 

[3kidsmommy]

My 7 yo son with autism still can't tie and that is just fine by us. He also can't snap, button, etc. His fine motor skills are still too far behind. So, although I have no suggestions--my son's OT did say that they don't worry about a child not being able to until 8. Some children just naturally develop slower--even neurotypical ones. That made me feel a lot better. Best of luck.

 

[princessh]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to try taking my own pictures.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

My son is not at the level of ever tying his shoes but I do teach first grade and I have a great book that has shoe laces on it and it has page by page instructions. I dont know if this would offend your friend as it is a little childish (bright colored pictures) unfortunatly it is in my classroom at school and I will not be back until Jan 13 (going to hospital with DS for tests) I can't get the title until then. You could probably go to a large bookstore like Barnes and Noble and ask in the children's section. Also another hint ...use two different colored shoe laces in each shoe to start. It makes it easier to distinguish which is which. I tell this to my children's parents and it makes things easier until they get the hang of it. Good luck!!! We use those spiral type shoelaces in DS sneakers they are GREAT!!!!!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Hope it helped