Tying shoes

My DS is going into K and cannot tie his shoes yet. He still uses velcro. Is this bad? My mom said I knew how by 1st grade, but my girlfriend said her DD already knows and just turned 5.

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DD just turned 5 and is just starting to learn. She can get up to the last step but still hasn't quit got it.

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DS is going into first and he is still in velco...mainly to make things easier for us in the morning.


I learned early, but I do remember that my friend in 2nd grade didn't know how and I would be constantly tying her shoes (this was before velcro - I remember 'roos came out when I was in 3rd grade)

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Some learn sooner than others. As a phys ed teacher I had to tie childrens shoes up to the 5th grade. Sometimes I wish they had velcro LOL Honestly, I just wish that if your child does not know how to tie and you are tying them for them for the school day, then tie it in a double knot so it doesn't come out. I feel like I tie shoes allllll day.

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My son learned right as he started K - he was 5.5yrs. But he said he was the only boy in the class that knew how at that time and said only 2 girls could. By then end more learned how - for some reason my son would update me on this. My friend is a Kindergarten teacher and told me hardly any of the boys knew how to at that age.

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Posted by fdnywife

Some learn sooner than others. As a phys ed teacher I had to tie childrens shoes up to the 5th grade. Sometimes I wish they had velcro LOL Honestly, I just wish that if your child does not know how to tie and you are tying them for them for the school day, then tie it in a double knot so it doesn't come out. I feel like I tie shoes allllll day.

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My son insisted on getting shoelace sneakers because he wanted to learn to tie. Everytime I try to teach him he gets frustrated and now wants velcro again .

ETA: He'll be 6 in a week

Message edited 8/20/2011 5:15:44 PM.

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I teach 1st grade and I would say maybe 1/3 of the class can usually tie their shoes. And some of that 1/3 aren't very good at it.

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If it makes anyone feel any better...I just taught my oldest to do it a few months ago and he will be 9 in October. Honestly, I knew he'd learn at some point it's never been a big enough issue except he started getting into shoe sizes that don't really offer many velcro choices. On the brighter side, he learned in 2-3 tries. I taught my DD around the same time (she was 6 then) and she literally got the hang of it in 1 try. You can try showing him, if he has the interest and/or dexterity great. If he's reluctant, revisit in a few months. Not a biggie on the list IMO (obviously haha)

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DS is entering K and has no clue.

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My son is entering kindergarten and cannot tie yet. He chose sneakers with laces so I'm hoping he can learn before school starts! I do tie double knots but they still seem to come undone.

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DD is 5 and has no clue. however, she insisted on buying one pair of lace sneakers for this school year because she wants to learn - so we will try.

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We are just teaching her now at 5. However I got all laceless shoes for school so there isn't an issue of tripping on them if they come undone. She has a pair of play shoes that we are teaching her on.

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I taught my son at five.. he got it in like 10 minutes. just had him retie it over and over until he got it. :O)

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Thanks so much everyone. I definitely feel better now. He'll be wearing Velcro for sure!

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DD#1 could tie her shoes by the start of Kindergarten(she has a Jan bday though) she used to tie all the kids in her class to help the teacher LOL. There were a handful that could do it.

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My son can't either. To be honest I've never tried to teach him, I've always bought velcro.