Watching a child grow and develop can be an exciting yet saddening experience.  We all want our boys to grow up big and strong and our girls mature and beautiful, but a matronly piece of us still wants to hold onto them forever.  That piece of us is what keeps some parents doing more for their children than they probably should, hindering stages of development.  So, when is the right time to let go of the wheel?  When is the right time to teach a child to tie their shoes?  And when you figure that out, how do you go about it?

Below are a few standards that may greatly assist parents in training children to become masters of shoelaces:

• Wait until the child is truly ready.  Most kids are physically capable between the ages of 4 and 6.  Girls will often be able a bit sooner than boys, so don't worry if your son isn't picking it up quite as fast as his big sister.
• It will be much easier for you to teach and for them to learn if your child already knows right from left.
• Choose a method, such as the One, Two, Tie My Shoe method, and stick with it.  Be sure that everyone who tries to assist your child is teaching the same method so as not to confuse the child.
• Sit side by side instead of across from the child, so that they will copy and not mirror your movements.
• Give praise when they've learned!  Learning to tie shoes is a major milestone and accomplishment in a child's development.  That's what the "Look, I can tie my own shoes!" success sticker is all about.

If you have your own techniques and success stories, feel free to contact us and share!

Photo by Selva.