Velcro Shoe Success!
Introduction
Kids love to have control over anything—and this little trick to get the right shoe on the right foot and the left shoe on the left foot will boost your child's self-confidence while taking one more thing off of your to-do list as you're trying to get out the door in the morning.
Gather Materials
- Your child's velcro shoes
Note: Small parts pose a choking hazard and are not appropriate for children age five or under. Be sure to choose lesson materials that you feel are safe for your child and that you are comfortable letting your child use.
Activity
Children feel empowered when we trust them to do things for themselves. When we teach them how to manage self-help skills such as putting on their shoes, we are giving them the gift of independence.
This delightful little tip will teach your child an important self-help skill and quickly work its way into your daily routine.
Please do yourself, your child and your child's teacher a favor and buy velcro shoes for your early learner. Trust me, no teacher has the time or the patience to tie 20 pairs of shoes each day!
Velcro shoes are also easy for children to put on the correct feet...if you teach them this trick.
- Show your child how to sit with his or her legs in a letter V position.
- Place the right shoe in the middle of the V.
- Open the velcro on the right shoe and look at the direction the velcro is pointing. The velcro always points to the foot that the shoe should go on!
- Now, using your best deep "talking-shoe" voice for the right shoe, say: "I want to go on that foot!" while pointing with the velcro in the direction of the right foot and leg.
- Repeat the process for the left shoe, but use a high, squeaky voice and say: "Well, I want to go on that foot!" and point the velcro in the direction of the left foot and leg.
Trust me, after a few practice sessions, you will hear your child imitating the deep voice of the right shoe and the squeaky voice of the left shoe. In no time, the shoes will be on the correct feet—and out the door you go!
