Children do not usually have the fine motor skills or coordination to tie their shoelaces until they are at least 5 years of age. Learning to tie shoelaces also requires patience and determination (which can be just as challenging for parents as it is for children) because it requires lots of practice. To make it easier for your son to learn, replace thin or slippery shoelaces with wide, easy to grasp laces. Using two different color laces can also make it easier for you to show your son how to tie the laces and for him to follow your verbal instructions. There are a number of toys that help children learn to tie shoelaces such as Melissa & Doug's “Wood Lacing Sneaker” and PlanToys “Plan Preschool Tie-Up Shoe,” or you can lace ribbon through a cardboard box or a cardboard cut-out of a shoe so your son has a place to practice.
