so yeh i think i'm the worst teacher when it comes to tying shoes.. ds's reading teacher taught him in kindy since we had tried so many times and failed.. now i think i should try to teach ds he is a little more receptive than older ds was....

so have you taught them to tie their shoe's and if so what method do you use the bunny ears or swoop and pull...or another?

My girls don't have any shoes with laces. The velcro style shoes work great for them. My oldest prefers Mary Jane style shoes. Laces are just a PITA for little ones. I was glad I didn't send her with shoes with laces when I volunteered at preschool. The teachers spent so much time tying shoes for children. My dd was independent because she had the velcro shoes. Needless to say, it isn't a priority for me at this point.

I'm lazy too, all my kids shoes have velcro and their crocs are slip ons. Since I don't even buy shoes with laces, they have never had them! I don't see why parents of young kids would when there are so many easy shoes on the market!

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A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt

I will use velcro shoes until they are a few years old and then switch to laces as I really don't like velcro (kids do use sandals and crocs in the summer). I have never had a problem with my kids laces coming untied as we double knot them.

My older two, 7 & 5, learned by the time they were 5 how to tie their shoes. DS wanted to learn (he was 4) and so DH taught him in an afternoon. Then when DD wanted to learn (she was also only 4), DS taught her one afternoon as DH had tried and she didn't get it but having big brother show her made all the sense in the world to her.

So I think it's whatever works for you and your family. My younger two may not be interested in learning how to tie their shoes at 4 but hopefully by the time they go to kindergarten they will be able to.

my mom taught my oldest to tie his shoes (he is 5 1/2). However, she had the time to sit and practice and practice and practice. I send him out to get ready a little bit earlier so he can tie his shoes. However, when he is upset or trying to hurry then I need to help.

We tie our shoes with the bunny ears. My DH is the other way but since I stay at home I can show the bunny ears.

Ds is 6.5 and just recently learned to tie his shoes. I never considered it a big deal because you can get Velcro shoes for your lifetime nowadays.

Dh taught him in the beginning of summer and while he can do it sometimes has me re-do them to get them tighter.

It was never a big deal for us...I'd get him Velcro until he asked for tie shoes if he wanted.