Tying shoelaces

[Tizzybudd]

I'm trying to teach my 7 year old daughter to tie up her own shoelaces, but I'm left handed and she's not. I can't figure out how to do it right-handedly and she's getting ver cross.

Any tips or help gratefully received!

Thanks, Tizzybudd

[tiggeralix]

Im not 100% sure where you can get them but there are boards you can get from somewhere like woolworths and clarkes that shows a right handed or vice versa how to do their shoe laces. i had one when i was a little girl as i was the same - let me know if you manage to find one as i will need one soon enough

good luck

[JustSia]

it doesn't really matter how you teach her, even right handed there are several ways of doing it as long as she grasps the idea of a loop and a knot. Do it on some strings first let her practice her knots she'll soon realise what happens and will find her own way of doing it.

Good luck.

[candybar]

lol why not get someone else to teach her? or look for instructions on the internet and print them out for you to follow together.

[Tizzybudd]

Tiggeralix - thanks for that, I never knew such a thing existed.... will let you know if I find one.....

JustSia - trust me it does make a difference if you cant show her where the loop goes - I cant get my brain to convert what I do naturally left handed to show her - the first loop bit is fine but I cant figure out where to pull the second loop through - try it left handed to see what i mean. Thanks for your answer though.

candybar - I had to admit defeat with my son (now 14 and not willing to help out) - my righthanded sister-in-law taught him but I really should be able to do this - have got written instructions but they are quite wordy for her to follow

I think what bugs me most is that both kids have left handed parents, aunties, uncles and both sets of grandparents but have selfishly turned out righthanded,,,,

Will keep on trying - thanks for your help

[cameo]

i know what you mean Tizzybud.

i am right handed but my daughter is left.

i found that i would have a shoe and she would have a shoe.
i would make a loop and tell her to make a loop, (which she did, in a left-handed way).
i would then carry on like this, where at each step i would do it and she would do it in her way!

eventually with a lot of practice she got it!!

[saxy_jag]

Can you not just sit opposite her as you teach? Let her mirror you tying your own lace. It's how my guitar teacher used to teach his 'leftie' students.

[tigerthecat]

Also whenever teaching a new skill try backward chaining - whatever the skill is the child does the very last bit until its confidently mastered. for shoe laces this might be pulling the last loop through. When shes got that let her do the bit before (pushing the lace through the hole- you know what I mean). Any way the point with backward chaining is that she will always be sucessful and therfore feel more confident. It works for loads of things.

[bednobs]

personally i dont see whats wrong with teaching a rightie to tie their shoelaces lefthandedly, as long as they can do them, it dosent matter how

[Tizzybudd]

thanks everyone for your practical suggestions - will have to plod on until we both crack it I think......or keep on with velocr & buckles!

Tizzybudd

[candybar]

good luck! you should let us know when you get somewhere!