Shoe laces

[mycatis]

My son is really clever (honest lol) but the problem is he can't /won't learn to tie his shoelaces! He is 9 and in everything else he has been ahead of things developmentally but we just can't get past this, help!! Any ideas please?

[Jules001]

You may have already tried this so apologies if you have, but you could try the 'well you are a big boy now and there will be a time when we won't be able to get any velcro fastened shoes, or trainers so you have to know how to do them' or just bite the bullet and replace his shoes/trainers with laces so he HAS to learn or look silly at school when he can't do his laces and needs someone to do them up for him.(sounds harsh I know, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind)

[boobesque]

i had a 'toy' from early learning in the shape of a flat wooden trainer with laces to teach me how to tie my laces, i am sure they could still be available, not sure where from though, btw i was about 10 or 11 before i could do it!

[january_bug]

I'm presuming that you can persuade him to try to learn, it's just the technique that's hard for him... I found that certainly!

You know there are two techniques? Well I learned the easy way first, and the harder way came naturally later. My parents found it very hard to teach me this as I'm left handed and they're right, so actually a friend my age taught me when we were about 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or so! lol

OK, just simply take one string, make it into a loop. Repeat with the other. You now have two loops... tie them in a knot. Ta daaaaaaa!

Maybe you'll have to get some brightly coloured laces for him to practice on! :-)

[boobesque]

the only thing similar to what i had was this

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0812065530/103-3000514-5380647?v=glance

[woofgang]

have you talked to him about why this is a problem? is it a can't or a won't? I COULD NOT learn to tell the time...didn't really get it off pat till i was about 12 or 13. Wasn't being difficult, really couldn't do it and i'm still not sure why. Can he tie bows in other circumstances?

[mycatis]

Jules- I did buy him shoes with laces but he wont wear them! (my gran bought him velcro ones, aarrggh)
boob - gonna try one of those
Buggy - does that work? will try that tonight *Cat runs off to practice on her own shoes lol*
woofgang - I'm not sure, everytime we try, he gets annoyed/upset and it ends up a row

[boobesque]

cat i was exactly the same, i simply couldnt do it, and as with your son i always ended up arguing with my parents, mainly due to being very embarrased, the tying guide came in very useful and one day it just happened!

Like woofgang its incredibly hard to explain why you just simply cannot do something! btw woof my 13 year old brother only learnt to tell the time last year!

[woofgang]

sounds like its a "can't" can I suggest taking off the pressure, let him wear his vecro shoes and leave the tieing guide around where he can take a look at it without it being a big thing?

boobesque, tell your bro that i said its a sign of great intelligence and personal magnetism ;-)

[mycatis]

Will try that then woofgang, thanks everyone :-)

[boobesque]

agree with woof there, my parents left me to it in the end, and just left the guide for me to use at my leisure!

Oh woof i couldnt tell my brother that, he is vain and big headed as it is lol

[january_bug]

Well, it worked on my shoes for ummm... it still does. Just do a normal knot first.. I forogt that bit! Ok - as follows (gawd I need to draw pictures!!)

1. Tie a normal knot


2. make one string into a little loop


3. make other string into a little loop


4. tie the two loops into a knot!


5. Bob's yer uncle! :-)