I think I was five or six when I learned to tie my own shoelaces. Probably five when I think about it because that would have been my first year at school.
I mention it only because my eight year old son has only just learnt to tie his shoelaces. That may seem a little late in life but the the reality is, he hasn’t needed to learn. All his shoes are and always have been velcro fastening.
There were no velcro shoes when I was his age. There were lace-up shoes and slip-on shoes and if you wore slip-on shoes you were teased mercilessly.
I distinctly remember that my school had a wooden board in the shape of a foot with laces. It was a ‘lace tying simulator’ for want of a better term.
I don’t ever recall seeing one of those at my children’s school and they’ve never mentioned using one, so I guess it’s something that doesn’t happen anymore?
It’s interesting to think that these days there might well be teenagers who still can’t tie their shoe laces. No. That can’t be possible. Can it?
And in case you thought there was only one way to tie your shoe laces, think again. There are at least 17! Have look at How to Tie Shoelaces.
Dave
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Looking at your 17 ways of tying shoe laces, it’s a bit complicated. I’d stick to the conventional.
Hi Walter, some of them are too complicated even for a man of my age, let alone for my son. Perhaps I should consider getting velcro fastening shoes for myself?
I know of some teenagers who can’t tell time on a regular clock.
I wish I were making that up.
That’s pretty much criminal in my highly judgemental opinion.
You can still buy the wooden learn to tie shoe thingies – I have seen them on GLTC and Letterbox. I’m sure i remember one in my daughters Foundation unit but for her velcro reigned supreme too. The weeks of teaching her were painful as I recall!
I’ll be honest, this is the first time I’ve ever tried to teach someone to tie their shoe laces and it isn’t easy. There are quite a few fine motor skills involved and each hand is doing several things at once. One thing’s for sure… there’s no way I’m teaching my children to drive.
I’ve actually thought about this recently. How old should your child be before you’d want them to learn this? My kids’ shoes have velcro as well, and I doubt that will change anytime soon. But I have this need to sit down with them and practice – maybe because I remember sitting on the porch with my uncle and practicing one summer, and how good it made me feel to finally get it. The quality time was also priceless. I don’t know, the whole process is just full of sweet memories for me, and somehow I want my kids to have the same experience. How weird am I!
Actually, actually, actually – you’re dead right! And I’d completely missed that aspect of it. My son was so pleased with himself when he finally did it. I can’t believe I missed that one. What sort of stay at home dad am I?