As a therapist working directly with children, I often see skills and tasks done for the child for the sake of convenience. I get it, it’s a fast-paced world, and spending extra time buttoning a coat just to do it wrong and have to do it again seems ridiculous but by doing the everyday tasks for our kids we’re taking away key developmental skills they need for overall independence.
I sound dramatic, I know, but without fail, I am asked on the regular why little Tommy cannot tie his shoe.
So I’m here to tell you why…He’s never been allowed to, velcro, slip-on shoes, and the rush of everyday life has forced this skill to go untaught and occupational therapy is here to bring it back!
Back in the day, shoes were not what they are today.
If you had velcro you had three giant ugly straps of the velcro, now there are cute designs, you have adaptive laces that look like they are tied but in fact, they are elastic laces and never actually come undone.
I will say these are a GREAT option for our friends who physically cannot tie their shoes due to motor control issues or physical limitations so I will link them because they do in fact look the most inclusive and blend in the best. As a therapist these are NOT a substitute for simply not teaching shoe tying if it’s functionally possible, let’s keep going.