Honestly, what would we do without Velcro? Moms, teachers, and daycare providers would be tying shoes all day long. That's because most children lack the coordination to effectively tie their own shoes until they're at least around 4 or 5. By then, her fine motor skills will be developed enough and she can remember the multistep process required to tie laces. But plan on her still needing plenty of practice and a little help every now and then (which is why so many schools prefer Velcro sneaks). In fact, most girls don't master the task of tying their own shoes until age 6, and boys may need help until age 7. --Deborah Skolnik

Copyright © 2005. Reprinted with permission from the April 2005 issue of Parents magazine. Updated 2009

Answered by Parents Team

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