Weston can tie his shoes!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Weston can tie his shoes!
5
Fri, 05-05-2006 - 9:46am

Weston (age 9, in 4th grade) has never been able to tie his shoes. We have indulged him always buying shoes w/ elastic/zippers/velcro. Well, he needed new tennies for summer, his school shoes were falling apart and had holes in the soles from how he walks.

We went out yesterday after school, because they had early release. I bought Martha her new shoes, but couldn't find any at the first 3 places that worked for Weston. He has a LONG thin foot (he wears a size 7, right between a man's and boy's shoe). I kept telling him that we probably weren't going to be able to find a shoe for him that didn't have laces. I kept gently telling him we'd work on learning to tie his shoes. So, finally, after a couple of big huffs and sighs about not being able to find non-tie shoes, he got to pick out shoes from a store. At first I said he could pick any of them--- but of course he picks up a really cool pair that costs $90!!! I had to revise my "pick any" to pick any that cost less than $45. He is very aware of things being very expensive (we must talk about that to the kids really often) so he didn't even blink an eye when I said that. Just said a couple of times very loudly, "noone should buy shoes that are THAT EXPENSIVE!" LOL!

He came home very proud that he'd only spent $30 dollars on his shoes and they fit really well and felt cushiony on his feet. (he and Martha were pretending to be "moon walking" cause they had bouncy feet) He insisted I drop everything and teach him to tie his shoes right then and there. So, I showed him how. I couldn't teach him to get the regular method so I showed him bunny ears. DH stopped working for a bit and showed him the 'correct way' to tie his shoes and he proceeded to work on it for an hour. Proudly showing me how well he could tie them after that time.

Last night when I told him it was time to take a shower he got all upset, "I can't take off my shoes", "well you can't take a shower in your new ones!" DH came in and told him he would just be able to tie them again in the morning, so he was happy.

This morning he came down stairs all dress even the shoes and proudly stated "I can still tie my shoes and I'm usind Dad's method, it works better" LOL! whatever, as long as he can do it and it wasn't a traumatic experience I'm overjoyed!!!

Betsy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 05-05-2006 - 11:01am

That's great Betsy! Shoe tying is something we are going to work on this summer.

Christie

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2005
Fri, 05-05-2006 - 12:21pm
Betsy,
That's great! I think I will fall down in shock the day Jake even takes off one item of clothing let alone tie his shoes! Way to go Weston!
Teresa
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Fri, 05-05-2006 - 2:10pm

High five Weston! That's so great! We're a long way off from being able to tie shoes, but I am glad to hear about his and your success!

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 05-05-2006 - 8:45pm

Way to go Weston!!!!!!!! I remember when my son learnt to tie his shoes when his 2nd grade teacher gave him a vey hard time. He used to cry, I thought this whole thing was not worth trying at all, but eventually he learnt it at end of 2nd grade. Around that time, we had also started OT and that must have contributed to the co-ordination issue. But his 2nd grade teacher kept saying that he learnt it because she gave him a hard time, poor kid.
The only thing I used to do was tie it at home so well that it would rarely come off at school, mother hen I guess.

take care,
Anandhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Fri, 05-05-2006 - 8:54pm

Betsy,

That's awesome that he learned so quickly. Peter often does things like that. He waits a long time before he shows interest, but once the interest is there, he usually learns pretty quickly.

-Paula

-Paula

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