When a child learns how to put on their own shoes, it is like a small weight has been lifted. It’s one thing you can remove from your “to do” list prior to leaving the house. It is wonderful! Here are just a few ways we encouraged Big Brother to put his own shoes on: Buy Velcro Shoes (for now) Velcro sandals are a lot easier to put on than Velcro tennis shoes. I’m really hoping Big Brother can manage to put his own shoes on even as the weather gets colder because I’ve really gotten used to his increasing independence! Velcro shoes are so much easier for children to learn how to put shoes on . You also don’t have to worry about tying their shoelaces! There will be a time and place for children to learn how to tie shoes, but wait until they have the fine motor control to manipulate the laces. That can be anywhere between 4 and 6 years old. I still had first graders in school who couldn’t tie their shoes. Children need lots of encouragement! They’ll enjoy feeling “big” when they can do things themselves, but we also need to heap on the praise… especially when their intrinsic motivation is lagging. Use Happy Face Shoes