May 17, 2007 9:48 AM
Teaching kids to tie shoes
Rerunning this for the benefit of new readers:
Meg asked about teaching kids to tie shoes. I have to admit, I find this one of the most daunting requirements of being a mother.
I personally have always tied my own shoes the "wrong" way: by making two loops and then tying them. I think this way actually works best for teaching kids, though.
You can see it demonstrated step-by-step at Two Lace Shoelace Knot at a fascinating place called Ian's Shoelace Site.
For parents just beginning this adventure, the important thing is to remember that it's just like anything else we teach children: we have to take something we've done automatically and easily for years and analyze it, breaking it down into teensy tiny steps. Whatever method you use to teach your children, Ian's Site will help you understand the process thoroughly so that you can pass on this important part of our heritage to your children :)
One idea: before teaching your child to tie his own shoe, use very large shoe with thick shoelaces. Color each side of the shoelace a different color to cut down the confusion as he masters the steps. You might put a special sticker on the shoe for every time he gets it right. This is something you will want him to practice over and over until it becomes automatic.
As he is successful, you can transition to his own laces with his shoe off his foot, then finally while on.
Meg, thanks for asking about this. I really enjoyed discovering Ian's Shoelace Site and being able to pass it on.
Posted in Preschoolers | Permalink
Comments
Dear Barbara,
I often tie my shoes and people look at my shoe in shock and say in slow motion, "What did you just do??" I tie the "wrong way" too. In fact, my kids will too, because I am not sure I can even tie the "right way!" Haha. You are the ONLY person I know of that ties "wrong"....even in my family, everyone ties "right." So I wonder, who in the world taught ME? I live in the Bay Area. Maybe....it was you. :)
Posted by: shannon | May 18, 2007 3:02 AM
Shannon -
That's crazy! My best friend in high school - Candy - tied her shoes the same way. We both thought when we met that we were soul mates because of quirky things like that that we did differently. We also held our pencils on the ring finger rather than the middle when we srote.
So, yeah . maybe I did teach you? Did you ever go to Montessori school in San Francisco or Marin? I taught in both places - as well as Washington DC.
Posted by: barbaracurtis | May 18, 2007 7:14 AM
