Shoe Laces - at what age did your lo do their own laces up?

[Fredapain]

My ds is 6 and can't. Also, all the shoes/trainers seem to be velcro for his size, junior sizes, so not much options.

 

[SarahBear]

Violet is only 4, but she doesn't have any shoes with laces. If all the shoes in his size don't have laces, then I just wouldn't worry about it. Is there a reason you're wanting him to tie shoes or are you just curious about when the skill is expected to develop?

 

[loeylo]

My daughter is an infant size 3 and we have had lace up shoes for her, so they definitely do exist in small sizes.

I was definitely at school before I could tie my laces.

 

[Fredapain]

Someone mentioned it today and my heart sank leading to feeling like a bad mummy moment, as I've totally let the whole shoelaces thing pass us by. I think because we always shop at Clarks as my ds has really narrow shoes, I've just bought Velcro without thinking. Can't even remember seeing lace up shoes on offer in his size.

 

[SarahBear]

Someone mentioned it today and my heart sank leading to feeling like a bad mummy moment, as I've totally let the whole shoelaces thing pass us by. I think because we always shop at Clarks as my ds has really narrow shoes, I've just bought Velcro without thinking. Can't even remember seeing lace up shoes on offer in his size.

Not teaching shoes laces definitely isn't a "bad mummy" thing. If his shoes don't have laces, it's an unnecessary skill. If someone asks about it, just say he hasn't learned because his shoes don't have laces.

 

[lau86]

My oldest will be 6 in September and can't. He has lace up converse but all his other shoes are Velcro. It's not a big deal, I tie them for him. I think I was able to do it at his age but I'm not sure how,it seems hard! I could teach him now but I will only bother when he has lace up school shoes

 

[SarahBear]

For some perspective, my mom taught kindergarten (ages 5-6 in the US) for a while and had a rule that she didn't tie shoes after winter break. When kids asked her to do it after break, she'd remind them about her rule. At this point, the kids would help each other and eventually they could all do it. So, yes at age 6, kids should be capable of it, but they may need a push in order to do it. However, it's really not a big deal if you choose not to give that push.

 

[CaptainMummy]

Paige is 6 and a bit and has been able to tie her laces for a few months now, just before she turned 6. I've found that most trainers seem to be lace up once you get into bigger sizes and there aren't many velcro ones. Paige wont wear velcro anymore, her trainers have to have laces.

 

[Kate&Lucas]

Lucas can't do his yet. I've not even thought of teaching him tbh, I know OH has showed him a few times but he has poor fine motor skills so I'm not after pushing him. His school shoes are velcro and his trainers slip on.

 

[SarahBear]

Even if shoes come with laces, there are things you can do to replace the laces. I think it's really a matter of whether or not you and your kid want to bother with it. I was sitting in a meeting regarding a high school student who couldn't tie his shoes. The dad wanted the school to focus on helping him learn and everyone else thought it was unnecessary including the kid's mother. During the discussion, someone looked under the table and pointed out that less than half the adults at the table had shoes with laces. There are always alternatives if it's not something you find important.

I did a quick google search. Check these out:
https://www.thegrommet.com/elastic-...Sbd0U15I0Eas1KPfkoZ2zRQaAlIC8P8HAQ#color=neon

 

[Kate&Lucas]

I was 18 when I figured it out

 

[SarahBear]

I was 18 when I figured it out

My husband still doesn't tie his shoes well and he's 34. He did better when I showed him the double bunny ear method that I use, but he still doesn't do it well. Violet is a lot like him with her coordination and body awareness. I suspect we'll just avoid laces until she expresses interest.

 

[loeylo]

Even if shoes come with laces, there are things you can do to replace the laces. I think it's really a matter of whether or not you and your kid want to bother with it. I was sitting in a meeting regarding a high school student who couldn't tie his shoes. The dad wanted the school to focus on helping him learn and everyone else thought it was unnecessary including the kid's mother. During the discussion, someone looked under the table and pointed out that less than half the adults at the table had shoes with laces. There are always alternatives if it's not something you find important.

I did a quick google search. Check these out:
https://www.thegrommet.com/elastic-...Sbd0U15I0Eas1KPfkoZ2zRQaAlIC8P8HAQ#color=neon

To a certain extent I disagree. When I was at school I was on the latter end of normal when it came to fine motor skills and coordination. As an adult I was diagnosed with dyspraxia and dyscalculia. These didn't necessarily hold me back, but it did make it more difficult for me to do the same tasks as my peers hence I was on the latter end of the normal timescales in tasks which were influenced by these conditions, compared to being early for skills which were not. For me, repetition and practice definitely helped and I eventually mastered skills with practice. I think avoiding laces by the time you are in mid primary school (7 years or so) definitely would lead to being ostracised by peers. By that age, kids want to follow fashion trends, and lace up "alternatives" such as curly laces are simply not cool.

 

[SarahBear]

Even if shoes come with laces, there are things you can do to replace the laces. I think it's really a matter of whether or not you and your kid want to bother with it. I was sitting in a meeting regarding a high school student who couldn't tie his shoes. The dad wanted the school to focus on helping him learn and everyone else thought it was unnecessary including the kid's mother. During the discussion, someone looked under the table and pointed out that less than half the adults at the table had shoes with laces. There are always alternatives if it's not something you find important.

I did a quick google search. Check these out:
https://www.thegrommet.com/elastic-...Sbd0U15I0Eas1KPfkoZ2zRQaAlIC8P8HAQ#color=neon

To a certain extent I disagree. When I was at school I was on the latter end of normal when it came to fine motor skills and coordination. As an adult I was diagnosed with dyspraxia and dyscalculia. These didn't necessarily hold me back, but it did make it more difficult for me to do the same tasks as my peers hence I was on the latter end of the normal timescales in tasks which were influenced by these conditions, compared to being early for skills which were not. For me, repetition and practice definitely helped and I eventually mastered skills with practice. I think avoiding laces by the time you are in mid primary school (7 years or so) definitely would lead to being ostracised by peers. By that age, kids want to follow fashion trends, and lace up "alternatives" such as curly laces are simply not cool.

Did you look at the link? It wasn't curly laces. There are "cool" alternatives to laces. Also, if a kid is motivated to learn, then that's different. But if the kid doesn't care about learning to tie shoes or keeping up with trends, I don't think it really matters.

 

[CaptainMummy]

I think learning to tie your shoe laces is pretty important. It's one of those things that you can just do... I can't imagine why you wouldn't want to know how to tie, even if you don't wear laced shoes. I'd be pretty embarrassed if I couldn't tie my laces, and would also be questioning my parents as to why the heck they didn't teach me!? I also definitely don't think those are 'cool' alternatives, they are pretty ridiculous imo.

 

[loeylo]

Admittedly I didn't look at the link, I have now and as a high school teacher these would definitely not be considered "cool" where I work/live. I teach kids from 11-18 and almost all of them are very into fashion and trends, anything which makes a kid "different" can lead to problems, I definitely would be forcing my kid to learn to tie laces as it's just one of those things that we need to do. Even if a kid doesn't wear laced shoes they still need to know how to tie a bow, for example during arts and craft or project works. At primary school, telling the time and tying laces were big milestones.