Hi, I’m Theresa Blodgett and I am a dialing living skills coach at the Washington State
School for the Blind. With me today is one of my students.
Carlyann: Hi I’m Carlyann, I’m 11 years old, I am in the fifth grade and I also, go
to the Washington State School for the Blind. Theresa: Today Carly and I are going to help
you teach your child how to tie there shoe.
Theresa: Carly I am going to have you watch me tie a shoe. So, if you would put your hand
on top of my hands while I tie the shoe. live got a lace in each hand and I am actually
going to tie the first knot. You can just feel how my hands are moving here.
Theresa: When teaching your child you should first talk about special concepts. You want
to make it clear that they understand you when you say up and down, back or front, right
or left, and in front of or behind. Theresa: Tie the show with the following steps:
We are going to take the right lace and cross it over the left lace; grasping the laces
together to form an ìxî. The right lace will go down, under and through the left lace.
Youíll grasp the right lace in your left hand and the left in the right and pull it
tightly to form the first knot. Youíll form a loop, and weíve already talked about what
a loop looks like and were you grasp the loop, close to the shoe or the book in this case.
Take the left lace and go around the loop. Feel for the thumb on the right hand that
thatís were youíll push the lace through. Grasp the emerging loop with your right hand
and slip your left hand to the top of the loop. Pulling it tightly making sure that
the loops are about the same size and that the laces arenít too long.
Theresa: Carly could you show us how you tie your shoes?
Carly: First, I cross the laces over and then I put it through the hole. Then, I grab it
through, and then make a loop that doesnít droop, then I put it over and under through
this other hole and pull it snug. Okay, got it.
Theresa: Youíve done a nice job. It does take a lot of practice and a lot of patience
on the part of parents and teachers to teach shoe tying and itís a good idea that when
you are you practicing with different things, whatever works best for your child. You could
use a real shoe. You can also use a ribbon thatís got wire in it. It holds the shape
better when you are making a loop. Carly, could you show us now how you tie your shoe?
Carly: Well, first I untie it, and then I cross the strings over and put it through
the hole, then I pull it out, and I pull the loop up, and put the string over, and I get
it through the other hole and pull it snug. Theresa: Great job Carly, that looks really
nice.
Theresa: If your child is having difficulties donít become discouraged. You can try using
a jump rope or a fabric cord or other things that they can still get the movements from
and understand the spatial concepts of tying a shoe. It will take time. Right Carly?
Carly: Yeah, if I can do it so can you!
Theresa: Youíre right. Thank you for watching our video clip. If you would like more information
please contact the Washington State School for the Bind.
Womenís voice: Brought to you by the Washington State School for the Blind, for more information
please call (360)696-6321.