Can your 7/8 yo do this?

[Anonymous]

I'm just curious if your 7/8 yo can snap, zipper, tie shoes. Trying to evaluate whether small motor skills are off or our expectations are off...

[Anonymous]

My son who is 7.5 can do all of those things. I'd have to say that I think most can. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

I think mine was six when he had all of these skills. I will say though that I think he is messy at tying shoes. He doesn't tighten the laces unless you remind him. My 5 year old does not tie shoes. If the snap is not too tight, he can do it and he can also zipper.

[Anonymous]

this reminds me I need to get on the shoe-tying with my 6 year old. He's so used to velcro!.

[Anonymous]

I think that's off. Granted, my kid has to re-learn how to tie shoes on those rare occasions when he needs to (we are heavy into the Vecro and slip-ons), but zippers and snaps and buttons are no problem.

[Anonymous]

mine is 6 and can do all that, she just learned to tie her shoes but has been using buttons and snaps for a while

[Anonymous]

Yes. Although he's slow with the laces yet. I think it is time to ask your doctor.

As for "getting on with the shoe-lace lessons": I highly recommend that your kid has one velcro pair and one tie pair while going through the learning. You don't want to make your child feel inadequate by saying "here, just let me do it," but it can take 20 minutes for a kid to do a pair of shoes in the beginning. I don't know about you, but we cut it WAY closer than that in the AM.

[Anonymous]

I think I'd have your child evaluated or at least ask your Ped. As others have indicated, many 5-6 year olds (mine included) can do all of these things.

[Anonymous]

Yes, talk to your Ped but don't start getting too upset just yet. There is always the possibility, espcially since this is a 1st born boy, that he just likes having you do it for him.

In my extensive experience, girls and second/third/fourth children are more likely to want to "do it myself." First born boys are OFTEN happy to let mommy or nanny or teacher do it for them. It makes them feel special and cared for and loved. Nothing really wrong with that and it will change as he grows and sees his friends doing these things themselves. My very smart and athletic and capable first child, a son, with absolutely no developmental delays, only started tying his own shoes right before he turned 7. Once he decided he wanted to, he figured out how to do it in one day flat. He also still liked me to button his shirts and generally help him dress in the morning for a longgggg time after 6. I think a big part of it was the time to chat and have Mommy all to himself with no little sibs to interfer. It was really sweet.