I Can Tie My Shoes!

I can tie my shoelaces*? 

Shoe tying begins around age 4 and is a skill still to be mastered at age 6.

Toys: Lace up figures, shapes, and book; marbles, (new) FP Castle, Princes and Princesses, and Village. (It was fun to see how the boys got very involved in imaginary play with the princes and castle!)


 

  











Snack: Apple slices, pretzel sticks, and powdered doughnuts.

Circle Time:  Today we read about a little girl who was afraid to go to Kindergarten because she thought she had to tie her shoelaces by herself, without help! She learns that almost all Kindergartners are still learning to tie their own shoelaces. 
(**We did not get to our Show ' Teaches today.  Please have your child bring it on Thursday.)  

Eva's Un-Birthday!   

Eva Marie was born on April 13 by emergency C-section.  (She had an 8 inch cord wrapped around her neck).  We are so happy to have her in our family!  She turned four on Sunday.  She loves pink, her family, princesses, playing, and ponies.  She told the class her father (an Actuary/I.T. Chief) "washes dishes and cleans the floor" at his job!  (It is great when dads pitch in at home, rare, but nice!)  When asked what she will learn this year, she told the class,"You have to be careful!"  She might have been reflecting on a recent accident when she slipped climbing a loft ladder and let go/fell.

 

 Kayson helps me Demo how to Tie Shoes*: 

(One trick is to tie different colored laces together in the back--children are still learning right and left hands and so colors help.)

Step one:  Have child hold one lace in each hand and "cross" together--(make an X), then tuck one end under, and pull.

 

Step two: wrap "bunny ear" (loop) around thumb and pinch with left index and thumb. 

Step Three: With right hand, "chase" lace around the loop 

and poke little bunny ear through.

Step Four:  Pull second ear through loop

 

Step Five:  Pull ears apart and tight.

 Finished!  So proud.

*There are several ways to tie shoes (cross rabbit ears, etc.  See Links for Rhymes, songs, "Magic Fingers" Youtube, and suggestions.)
 
Books:   
Whose Shoes Are These? A Learn to Tie Your Shoelace Book by Lisa Carr (Barnes and Noble).
*Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee, Ill. by Harry Bliss

Links: 

• Magic Fingers ("Teach Your Child to Tie Shoes in 5 Minutes" Youtube)
•  Tying Shoes: A Collection of Songs and Poems
  

Skills to practice at home:

• Threading small items--yarn threading block necklaces, and threading cereal rings (coat string ends with tape), lace ups, etc.

• Practice shoe tying (dad's Church shoes, mom's tennis shoes, etc.)