Trouble Tying Shoes

While most kids learn to tie their shoes at 5 or 6, my son -- who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and a very high IQ -- didn’t learn until he was 7, going on 8. Many kids with ADD/ADHD find tying shoes challenging. It requires focus, eye-hand coordination, and an active working memory. None of these are strong suits in our kids.

Keep in mind that developmental delays are often part of ADD/ADHD. Fortunately, there are kits and products on the market -- Red Lace, Yellow Lace and One, Two, Tie My Shoe -- that will teach them how to do this basic task. You can also buy shoes that don’t need lacing.

When he is a little older, the following strategies may help:

1. Consider using cue cards that show each step of tying a shoe. A child with ADD/ADHD often has a strong visual memory that can bolster a weak working memory. 

2. Use a sample shoe on a table to make it easier to practice.

If these strategies don’t help, work with an occupational therapist or physical therapist to help him develop his fine motor skills.

Finally, take a deep breath. He will learn to tie his shoes!

Michele Novotni, Ph.D., is the former president and CEO of the national Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), a best-selling author, a psychologist, a coach, a parent of a young adult with ADD/ADHD, an ADDitude magazine writer, and a contributor to ADDitude's new ADHD Experts Blog.