to think that at 8 a child should be able to tie their shoelaces??

[macdoodle]

Am not sure about this one TBH??
My DD1 is just 8 and goes to Brownies with a group of 7-10 year olds (though most of them are 8 and over)!
On Tues she came home with a shoe made from paper and laces through it - and says they spent most of the hour "learning" to tie their shoelaces!

Really??? At 8 and older, do they need to be taught this skill in a formal setting - WTF are the parents doing - even in this day of velcro and slip ons, surely by 8 children can do this basic skill??

I was shocked and DD1 said she was bored silly - no surprise there....

So AIBU, am I expecting too much, and before you all shout SEN, there are no SEN children in this group!

FOR ANYONE WHO, LIKE ME, HAS AN 8 OR OVER STRUGGLING WITH LACES, FOR WHAT EVER REASON:-

TRY THESE

Particularly good if child has particular difficulties with hands or if they do something like tri-athete stuff where they need quick shoe changes etc.

Capital 'shouting' deliberate, by the way.

Those are great Doodlez. Might buy them for DS2 (5) so he can have more shoe choices.

Cor Doodlez what a great idea! My DD1 is just 7 and has enormous feet (size 4!) - is limited to mostly lace ups (esp trainers) so these could be a fab idea. Off to source them cheaply on ebay!! [grin}

Thank you Doodlez - I have added those to my Amazon wishlist for when we have no choice but to get DS1 lace-ups.

YABU. A lot of 8 year olds find it dificult to tie shoelaces.

No actually ours are slightly different- ds's adore bright colours and lose their shoes so we go for the brightest available, we have these in flourescent green and blue. Triply great for school trainers I find as they all seem to have similar and ours are findable from miles away.

YABU

DS,10, has struggled to tie his laces despite a lot of practice.

Thanks for the link Doodlez.

DD is 7 and can't tie laces, has never learnt and totally refuses to learn from me. DH brought her a pair of converse back from the States last year (in a cunning ruse to teach lace tying) and that still didn't motivate her - she just refused to wear them. She has some Roxy baseball boots on the go at the moment but they have zips down the side and she uses the zips to get them on/off and keeps the laces permananently fastened. She chose them herself because she saw the potential for ongoing laziness.

I would love her to learn at Brownies and think it would be the only way she would concentrate to do it - especially if there was a shoelacer badge available.

However YANBU. I do seriously castigate myself for my failure to impart this basic skill.

Both her brothers learnt on football boots during KS1 rather than suffer the shame of clarks velcroed football boots - there seems to be no equivalent motivator for girls!

They were almost certainly working on their Brownie Traditions badge. Tying a bow in shoelaces is just ONE small part of the activities you need to do for this. I sincerely doubt they spent the whole session just tying shoelaces. The badge consists of learning a range of different things that Brownies used to do in the past.
Now, obviously, a lot of children don't have lace up shoes so sometimes it is a new skill to them. They also learn to safely light a candle using a match, something which most eight year olds these days don't often get an opportunity to learn in daily life and lots of Brownie history. I've just done this badge with my pack and they've thoroughly enjoyed it. And no, lots of them weren't accustomed to shoelaces.
But if you have a concern, why not speak to Brown Owl.

BTW, my Brownies also do the Brownie Skills badge, which involves button-sewing, badge sewing and knot-tying among other things.

ooh concern is tto strong a word just surprised shall we say...and am a bit scared of Brown Owl TBH

How does she do that? Nobody's scared of me .

My dd has DCD and at her last review told the OT she wanted to learn to tie her laces. SHe's just 7. I thought she wodl never be able to do it - but teh OT used a book and a special set of laces (whichh I got home) - and last night she managed to tie a bow all by herself! OK - it's not on her own foot yet - and I think she will struggle with normal laces to get them tight enough - but she did it!
The book is by Kate Mason by the way.

LCG ds2 is doing a similar badge at cubs- button sewing, laundry, making a meal, tidying his room etc....

When Is ay doing I mean waving the book at me to sign without actually doing anything (and being told no chance)- in fairness he did make butternut squash and veg soup.

The rest I despiar over by Archaela is terrifying so I think he will do - I fully failed to master the terrifying but during my stint as Rainbow Leader.

Message withdrawn

OP may well be right there ae no SN kids

then she needs to ask why

I am always wary of anywhere there is nobody with SN, a mix of racial identities etc....

Our cubs really encourages kids with ASD, make me love them lots

If you don't have laces, why would you learn to tie them?

yabu. Does it matter, outraged of trumpington?

Peachy - I've been on MN for like 300 years now and this is the first time I got 'kudos' for anything....let me bask!

Top tip - use capitals for shouting about fab products!

Bobbing - you want me to go in and ask why they have no SEN kids??? Seriously
Its a small village with a small primary school of about 20 kids/year - is it inconceivable to you that there are no SEN children in this group, and TBH does it really matter !
I have accepted that IABU, was hoping not to turn this into a SEN debate!

Thank you Doodlez

DS who is 12 (and has AS) can't tie laces, I'd be delighted if anyone could teach him!
Those lace locks look ideal, I've been worried about not being able to find him velcro shoes.

YABU macdoole and a bit 'judgey', get those badges sewn on!

Mac, nope you ask yourself and if the answer is theya re welcoming but none have presented then all is well- I did the same of a club we attend (somerset so I know a bit about smallvillages LOL) and realised that people with any difference wasn't ewelcome.

Actually there will be kids in that school with sen assuming it reflects prevalence levels, - but like you don't wish for a debate. Been scouts and too tired.