Shoe tying… a rite of passage of some littles, and a source of complete and utter frustration for others. Children typically begin tying their own shoes between 5.5-6 years of age. As the school year is fast approaching, I thought I’d provide some resources and strategies for families interested in working on shoe tying in the coming weeks.
For a child to be ready for shoe tying the following skills should continue to be practiced and mastered: bilateral integration (using two hands), crossing midline, fine motor skills/manipulation, sequencing, dexterity, strength, coordination, and visual motor integration.
Foundational Skills
Bilateral Integration Activities: lacing cards, holding a container and placing objects into it with opposing hand, stacking blocks, clapping, tearing paper
Crossing Midline Activities: cross crawls (using one arm, crossing body, and touching opposing knee), windmills, ball pass (standing back-to-back and passing ball without moving feet), dancing, drawing a large figure 8 pattern, tennis, Simon Says
Fine Motor and Dexterity Activities: peeling stickers off shirt, bead stringing, coloring, clothespins, pop beads, lacing cards
Sequencing Activities: obstacle courses, scavenger hunts, following a verbal/written list of directions/instructions
Strengthening Activities: putty, Play Doh, resistive toys (Mr. Potato Head, Zoobs, Legos), clothespins, rubber band board, spinning toys/tops, tongs
Visual-motor Integration Activities: mazes, dot-to-dots, Spot It, Where’s Waldo, Ispy, hidden pictures
Learning to Tie Shoes
- I often recommend that a child begin practicing shoe tying on a shoe that is off however in front of them in the same alignment/orientation as if it was on their foot (pointed away from child)
- I typically suggest starting by practicing with dual-colored laces to allow for visual discrimination to assist with the shoe tying process. You can also tie two colored laces together and lace them on the shoe.
- Practicing using stiffer laces to decrease the floppiness of traditional ties (practice tying and manipulating ties using pipe cleaners)
- This video captures the exact method I teach many of my clients when they’re just learning. I find it really reduces frustration and eliminates a lot of the confusion associated with a more traditional way of tying.
Don’t fret if your child is not ready for shoe tying! There are plenty of stylish alternatives to traditional laces on shoes for kids– no matter their age. Work on this particular life skill as your child is ready. If it becomes a source of frustration, revisit when your child is calm and well-rested. Kids learn things at their own pace and that’s completely okay!
Happy shoe tying!
Emily