My first poll

[crumplehornedki]

So I was being a judgmental mother (in my head not out loud) and then I thought that I should actually find out how old other people were when they could tie shoelaces before being so judgmental. So for my own research:

Poll Tying shoelaces

this one should read <4, but I don't know how to go back and edit the code

add any explanations in comments

Comments

[thesteppyone]

Arse. *changes answer* I learned before I went to school, which I presumed was under 4, but then I realised I'd been 4 for two weeks less than a year before that so I was probably 4 when I learned. Yes... I think... lol

I distincty remember my mum sitting me down with a doll that had buttons, zips, laces and various other evil to a 4 year old contraptions and I couldn't leave until I could do it. Worked though! Went to school knowing how to tie my laces!

[megan29]

Zong! You think I remember? I'm not sure my mom would remember. I have a feeling that I had sandals and other strap-based "lacing" systems as a young kid - are those easier than shoe-laces? And my winter stuff was pull-on: they used to have those clunky, funny winter boots that were easy to put on, but not so easy to pull off.

But I'm pretty sure I could shod myself - whatever the system - by the time I went to school, which was 7. We had gym class where we had to change, and I would have been very embarrassed had I needed my mommy to come help me. :-)

[grandma_kate]

I remember learning the 'make a bunny ear and go round it and put the other ear through'. I know I could tie and my little sister couldn't, but didn't even want to learn. She could make knots, though.

I had taught many Kinders to tie things before I had any kids of my own. I taught them the "two loops' way (that a local Nursery School taught) because it was easier for them. I think the girl scouts changed the girls to the conventional way. Duffy had floppy shoelaces until he was about 7. He knew how, just didn't care.

[tdu000]

I can't remember when I learned. Little Tyke could do them just before her 4th birthday and insisted on showing absolutely everybody, then spent the next few years trying to pretend she couldn't and either walk around with them undone or try to get other people to tie them for her.

[iviolinist]

I was 6 when I learned to tie my shoes, maybe 5. I remember my mom told me I couldn't go to kindergarten until I learned to tie my shoes and I started kinder. when I was 6. I may have learned the year before in young fives.

In my kindergarten classes, kids are 4 - 6 years old. Most of them don't know how to tie their shoes when they start the year, but about half of them can by the end of the year. In first grade, the kids are 5 - 7 and almost all of them can tie shoes at the start of the year and all of them by the end. However, in 2nd grade, where kids are 7 - 9, I have an occassional child who can't tie shoes.

I'd say in my experience, 5 or 6 years old is about the average age for shoe tying. I think some of that comes from being at school where the teacher is not going to tie your shoes all the time whereas Mom and Dad might. :)