As children enter primary school, they become more independent with dressing skills. Tying their own shoelaces is one of these skills, and it requires strong fine motor skills such as finger isolation (using fingers separately), bilateral control (using two hands together at the same time), visual perceptual skills (giving meaning to what we see), hand-eye coordination and hand strength. The best part about it? All these skills are used throughout your child’s life, such as when handwriting, tying a bow on a present, and problem-solving new ways to learn a new skill!
Learning to tie your own shoelaces is a tricky skill that take a lot of practice and patience. With a bit of help from parents, children can learn to tie their own laces with some daily practice. Learning to tie shoes is a childhood rite of passage, and most children’s fine motor skills develop at different rates, so it’s okay to use Velcro or slip-on shoes until your child is ready to learn.
We can support you and your child to tie their laces the traditional way with a few simple tools.
What you’ll need: