# How old were you when you learned to tie your shoes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717 "2005-08-26T12:41:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OrangeJumpsuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OrangeJumpsuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OrangeJumpsuit)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/21 "2005-08-26T18:13:11Z")
1. I started pre-k at 4, and I learned before school started. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@Dusty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/22 "2005-08-26T21:51:56Z")
Using the two loops method, I’d say around 7. I’ve never figured out the other way, it either turns into a knot or comes undone. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/23 "2005-08-26T21:57:39Z")
I could read before I could tie my own shoes. 6 or 7, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/24 "2005-08-26T22:13:17Z")
My dad taught me when I was five. A couple of kids in my kindergarten class could already tie their shoes, so I wanted to be able to also. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/25 "2005-08-26T22:16:46Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I don’t mena to be rude, but for those who didn’t learn until 13 or later, just how the hell did you get around without falling on your face all the time? Or do you go barefoot? How hard is it to tie two peices of string together? > > I was about five or six and I was one of the later learners, or so I thought. Obviously I was somehow deficient in this area. I had a great deal of difficulty learning right from left, too. Perhaps there’s some correlation. I did a lot of barefooting it in the summer. I wore slip on shoes sometimes. My mother would tie for me in the morning and I would hope that it would stay that way. It was really horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/26 "2005-08-26T22:24:51Z")
First day of first grade! It was a crowning achievement. My dad took a picture of me in my new first-day-of-school-dress and tied-by-me sneakers to commemorate the occasion. So, I was six. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/27 "2005-08-26T23:37:51Z")
I don’t remember learning to tie shoelaces but I know I did tie them by kindergarten (age 5.) No velcro in those days. My daughter learned at age 3 1/2, when her daddy taught her. I kept telling him she was too young but she caught on in about 15 minutes flat. The only problem is he is left handed and taught her backwards by my way of thinking. She still ties them that way to this day. Daddy worship is powerful ju-ju. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/28 "2005-08-26T23:40:06Z")
> [@Cub Mistress](#): > > Daddy worship is powerful ju-ju. Oh yes. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/29 "2005-08-27T00:26:32Z")
I wasn’t in school yet. After frustrating attempts by my parents, Captain Kangaroo taught me with bunny ears, bunny holes and closing the bunny door. I thought I was special, and all you b\_\_\_\_\_\_s learned with bunny ears too! _dammit._ ---
**Author:** ![Tess\_of\_the\_Derbyville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Tess\_of\_the\_Derbyville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess_of_the_Derbyville)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/30 "2005-08-27T01:08:19Z")
My dad had a thing about kids with runny noses and untied shoelaces, so he taught me to blow my own nose at one and tie my shoes at three. But by three, I was already showing a preference for left-handedness. So dad puzzled out how a lefty should tie a bow and taught me his method. Needless to say, I tie the funniest-looking, lopsided, most backwards bow ever. My parents later learned that it was best to show me how to do something right-handed and then let me figure out how to turn it around for myself. I’ve tried to retrain myself about the shoelaces, but the old way was too ingrained so I’m stuck with the funny looking bows. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/31 "2005-08-27T03:57:18Z")
Either when I was six, or never, depending on your point of view. I have never been able to coordinate the whole wrap one lace around your thumb, then do something else manuver. (nor make French knots when embroidering). Still use two loops like little kids do. My shoes stay on and don’t come untied, so I’m not going to stress about it. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/32 "2005-08-27T04:08:43Z")
I was six, and I was taught the bunny method by my best pal (back then) Nathan. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/33 "2005-08-27T05:36:17Z")
I was about 5 or 6, but the strange thing is I can remember exactly the moment, standing in our hall way in the old house and making my mother watch me do it. I can tell you exactly where I was standing and where she was standing and I know it was summer as the window was open next to us. Odd to remember that much detail. ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/34 "2005-08-27T05:43:20Z")
I remember learning, but I have no idea how old I was. At a guess, I’d say 6. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/35 "2005-08-27T05:43:35Z")
I was 3. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/36 "2005-08-27T05:53:53Z")
I don’t have the slightest idea but I don’t remember when I couldn’t. So I’m going to claim I was born that way. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/37 "2005-08-27T05:53:54Z")
I was 4. Apparently I was very excited about it, and my mother was very proud, because I’ve got [a picture of it.](http://pics.livejournal.com/psycat90/pic/0001231q) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/38 "2005-08-27T06:13:06Z")
> [@psycat90](#): > > I was 4. Apparently I was very excited about it, and my mother was very proud, because I’ve got [a picture of it.](http://pics.livejournal.com/psycat90/pic/0001231q) Mother **pstcat90** thinks as she takes the snapshot, “now if only she ever gets the concept the shoe should be ON the foot…” ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/39 "2005-08-27T20:36:58Z")
LOL. Uhh. yea. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717/40 "2005-08-27T21:09:31Z")
I don’t remember exactly when. 6 or 7, I suppose. I do remember my mother getting impatient because when I tied the knot, the bow came out parallel to the length of the foot rather than across it. I didn’t figure out how to tie the knot correctly until I was in my 20s. I mentioned this to a friend’s wife, and it turned out she still had the same trouble, so I told her how to fix it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-were-you-when-you-learned-to-tie-your-shoes/318717.md?page=3)