AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGH! How do I teach him to tie his shoes?

[blondeatlast]

He can't seem to get the first loop, and it's driving me crazy.

Has anyone got any links or ideas?

Thanks in advance!

[SoCalDem]

1. Buy slip-ons and boots :)

Seriously.. There is (or was) a doll made that had snaps, ties, buckles, zippers.. Buddy somthing, if I recall. My boys learned to tie with that doll's clothing..

My brother had a hard time with ties too but we didn't really know it because he DID wear cowboy boots or flipflops.. We were actually startled to realize that he didn't know how to tie shoes, and then we realized that he had never HAD tie shoes as a toddler..:)

[phylny]

2. How old is he? n/t

[Ilsa]

3. Don't get too wired on this stuff unless he's eighteen already.

Kids are developmentally ready for these tasks when they're ready, and not before. Maybe fine motor skills are his strong suit yet. Until then, use velcro-closures or the new zipper shoes to make it easier on yourself and give him confidence in being able to dress himself.

For example, I was talking to my son's Kinder teacher today, and she and the other teachers were explaining "push" and "pull" in writing their letters, and they can't pull down (the down stroke in writing) until they are ready, just like anything else. So I took a chill pill on that one.

JMO.