I am so frustrated. My DS is starting first grade and still can't tie his darn shoes. It isn't for lack of trying. We have tried repeatedly for what seems like forever. He just can't get it. I'm looking for tips from all you K and first grade teachers out there. Help! I vow that he won't start school this fall without knowing.
but I feel your pain My 5 year old DSS doesn't want to learn to tie no matter what I do and here is the kicker he refuses to try and write his name- says his teacher will teach him not me urrrrrr. Good thing his teacher is a friend and has a sense of humor- he can tell you all about his name and coins and shapes and such, but no name (picture me pulling my hair out).
My 2 kids were so easy on these things and don't think I appreciated them as much as I should have- hahahahaha. My step children give me a run for my money, but I love them
If he needs a stop gap measure, I teach my students to tie a knot with the two bunny ears. It's not regular tying, but at least it gets the job done in the mean time!
I also have 2nd graders who can't tie their shoes.
Where my own children went to school, being able to tie shoes was a requirement and tested as part of their K test.
It took my daughter forever to learn, but we just kept doing it over and over and over. My FIL was actually the one who was able to finally get her to do it. There is always velcro.
right after I turned 5. "What, you don't know how to tie your shoes?" It didn't take very long.
If possible, find someone else to teach him, where it doesn't look like you set it up. This person should be someone he respects, and the person should act surprised he doesn't know to do it. I think I learned with bunny ears first.
Good luck! I teach K and no way am I going to try to teach 26 kids to tie their shoes!!
My youngest passed shoe tying in K, and then wore velcros, until 4th grade. He went into a panic when he realized he had out grown velcro shoes. But guess what- at 9 it came easy. He was tying shoes like a pro in one sitting.
When he is ready, he will do it. Don't get frustrated. that won't help.
Sorry I can't help! My son was well into 2nd grade before he could really tie his shoes. There is something about little boys and those finer motor skills that just take longer....Don't worry, he will learn to tie!
When my DS was in first and second grade, his teachers recognized that there were still kids that had trouble tying shoes. The teachers identified who was good at tying and who wasn't quite there yet. They would match them and assign every kid a shoe buddy. It made the kids that knew how to tie his/her shoes feel great because they were able to help. It made the kids that didn't quite get it yet, feel better because they weren't made fun of or made to feel uncomfortable. When I taught middle school, there were still kids who struggled to tie their shoes and some still used the bunny ear technique. When I taught high school, everyone was up to speed. So don't worry, it will happen.
I thought my daughter was never going to be able to tie. I think her little fingers just weren't ready for it! She was near the end of being 6 when she finally began to do a decent job. She's now been 7 for a couple of months and is pretty decent. You still have hope!! We all worked with her. Me, my mom, my son, my husband...
When I first started teaching first grade, my sister, who had already taught first grade told me, "Never teach them to tie their shoes. Give them a buddy and they'll teach each other." I've always done that, and it works for me.
My daughter, who is an adult now, but has developmental difficulties and autism, never learned to tie her shoes. I buy her those shoestrings that look like coils. You don't tie them. They coil as they come out of the holes, and they keep the shoes pulled tight across the top. No dragging shoelaces, and they stretch to put them on. You can buy them at WalMart. You might try those in the meantime while you're still working on learning to tie.
I had quite a few kids in 2nd grade who couldn't tie their shoes yet. I never really thought much about it. I either tied them or told them to ask a friend to tie them.
I wouldn't worry about it. I would say over half the kids come into first grade not tying shoes. We start the year off by finding out who can tie shoes, and everyone that needs help goes to those kids.
Or just get velcro shoes and you'll have no worries! It really isn't a big deal.
My son FINALLY learned in mid-first grade, but he preferred non-tie shoes until middle school. So we bought him non-tie shoes. What difference does it make?
I have had third graders unable to tie their shoes....usually it has been a left handed child with a right handed parent. My cousin who was left handed taught me to tie, so I have been able to help my left handed students (even though I'm a rightie).
Believe it or not, shoe tying is actually considered a six to seven year old skill! He will be fine! Just let him keep practicing and don't worry about it at all. Like learning to walk, potty training, learning to read and all those other skills, it will come when he's ready.
I have another one of those boys who had trouble tying shoes. He could do it, but it was so loose that they came untied right away. So I just bought velcro until about 4th grade. Then he learned quickly how to tie them tightly.
It will happen when he's ready, either fine motor wise, or wanting to keep up with his friends. Don't push him and don't stress over it. He'll push himself when he sees his friends doing it, and/or he gets tired of needing help. It's amazing how much kids start doing because they want the same level of independence their friends have.
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08-12-2012, 04:15 PM
