At what age do you think your child shoud be able to tie his shoes?

Question

Do you think it's bad that a child at age 5 can't tie his shoes yet?

Answer 1

Though most kids' shoes now feature Velcro closures, learning to tie ones own shoes is still considered to be milestone that children should master by 5 or 6 years of age.

All kids learn differently, try these methods and see what works best for your child.

1) Bunny Ears
Probably the most common method for teaching kids to tie their own shoes is the "Bunny Ears" method.

Tell the child that he needs to make his shoe laces into "bunny ears."
First, he needs to secure a knot for the bunny's head. Take the laces and cross them over to make an "X". Then, pull one ear through the bottom of the "X" and pull tight.
Say, "Now we need to give bunny some ears." Loop the laces into "bunny ears".
Tell the child that now we need to "make the bunny ears tight so they don't fall off". Then make another "X" using the "bunny ears", slide one "ear" under the "X" and pull tightly.

2) Bi-Colored Laces
This is a great tip that can really make learning to tie much easier. Take two laces in two different colors and cut them down the middle. Then sew them together to make two bi-colored laces. Lace a pair of old shoes with these funny shoes strings. Using bi-colored laces can really help a kid who has trouble remembering his right from his left. You can use any learning-to-tie method in combination with your bi-colored laces.

3) The Squirrel and the Tree
This is a fun method that utilizes a kid friendly story and movements that help kids understand and remember the basic steps to shoe tying.
Tell the child to create "tree roots" by making a starter knot.
Make a tree with a long thin loop; hold the loop in the child's right hand.
With his left hand, take hold of the lace and tell him that a squirrel runs around the tree and jumps into the hole under the tree and comes out the other side (he'll need to switch hands at this point which can be difficult for some kids).
-- Many parents prefer this trick because it teaches the kid to tie shoes with the single loop method.

Answer 2

I think that at age of 7 child should be able to tie his shoes.
I don't think it's bad that a child at the age of 5 can't tie his shoes yet!

Answer 3

The invention of velcro has a lot to do with it. I mean, how many shoes do you actually see nowdays that acutally tie?? Before I could get into kindergarten you had to know how to tie your shoes (no velcro back then) know your address, parents names, and phone number, and be able to count and write to at least 10 and write your name. Now, you don't need half that. You call them on their cell phone, everybody's got a calculator. But put me up against my nephew and he'll kick my butt at the computer game every time because his reflexes are that fast. But tie his shoes? What shoes does he have to tie? He's never seen a pair that tie, anymore than he's seen a horse dragging a plow. How many pair of shoes you currently own that tie??

Answer 4

My daughter learned when she was three but when grandma and grandpa got her velcro sneakers for Christmas just before she turned 5 she decided to "forget" how to tie shoes. She wouldn't wear anything but those damned sneakers because she didn't want to have to expend the energy to tie shoes. I finally put the shoes up and told her there was a hole in one of them and made her "remember" how to tie by getting her a pair of lace up sneakers. I "presented" her with the old velcro sneakers for her 18th birthday...

Answer 5

No, we all develop at different rates. Some people may have undiagnosed coordination challenges, so before you start worrying, or worse start scolding your child for not working hard enough at it, talk to your doctor. My husband learned, triumphantly, at age 9 -he had cerebral palsy and could not use his right side.

My father did not talk until he was four years old. My grandmother was very worried about him, and one day was out on the porch discussing this with her friends. My dad heard this, walked outside and announced, "I can too talk!" My grandmother almost fell over. It seems he hadn't had anything to say up to that point. Though he became a brilliant engineer, he never did spend a lot of time talking. So, check in with the doctor, then help him work on it, if he wants to learn, or just buy him shoes with velcro closures.

Answer 6

all children learn things at different speeds. we as parents can get very emotionally envolved in comparing the developmental status of our children to other children...relax and have fun with your child!!!

i think it's just fine that a five year old can't tie there own shoes. don't worry, your child will get it in there own time!!!

Answer 7

i work at a daycare, and kids learn these things at different times, i have a couple of 4yr olds that know how to tie there shoe, and a 5 year old that don't. kids are all different, when there ready, they'll just do it! alot of my other children just don't want to learn and there parents just don't give them tie shoes.

Answer 8

Some children can ties their shoes at 2 years old. Some take longer, but I think they should pretty much have it down pat by time they begin kindergarten. It's not bad that a 5 year old can't tie his shoes, but to prevent embarrassment in school, he should probably start practicing!

Answer 9

No. I didn't tie them until I was seven; however, I learned from a cousin as my parents never showed me how!

Answer 10

I think it's fine, my older sister didn't learn till she was about 6 and a half, or 7.