At What Age......?

[queenbee]

At what age do you expect children to put on their own shoes? Simple shoes such as velcro or slip-ons. Do you care if socks are inside out/bottom on top/sideways?

[Bookworm]

I'd say about 2.

[Childminder]

Most at three some can/will at two. I have a 3.5 yr old that doesn't have a clue, no matter how many times we go through it w/her she acts like it's a brand new discovery each and every time.

[jojosmommy]

Most at three some can/will at two. I have a 3.5 yr old that doesn't have a clue, no matter how many times we go through it w/her she acts like it's a brand new discovery each and every time.

HA! Well said. I have one like that and I wonder how she accomplishes other tasks......

[spud912]

My two youngest (21 months old) have been doing it for some time. The boy has been doing it for barely a month as he does not have the small motor skills quite yet. My dd is obsessed with shoes and therefore has been doing it by herself since 16 months. I'm surprised because she generally puts them on the right feet as well. My 3 year-old dd and 4 year old dcg still put their shoes on the wrong feet consistently, so I think she's ahead of the game in that department.

I do expect that somewhere in the 2's for the kiddos to figure it out. If they just start with me and they are 2/3 years old, I will minimally help them out at best and they figure it out fairly quick when they are the last to make it outside.

[CrayolaKids]

I'd say between 2 and 3 most are CAPABLE of doing it, just a matter of wanting to do it. I have one almost 3 year old dcg who has everything done for her at home and has absolutely no self-help skills what-so-ever. It took a week of her sitting on the deck by herself, after I've shown her how to do it umpteen times, while the others are already playing for her to finally just do it. She could do it....just didn't want to cuz mommy and daddy do it for her at home. And when it comes time for pick-up she plays into it big time that they do everything for her (she is one smart little cookie). Try getting her to dress/undress herself and that's a whole 'nother ballgame Like I said, most are capable of doing it before they actually do it, just depends on how much they are encouraged at home to do it themselves (at least for my group).

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

All of our 2 yr olds can.

[SilverSabre25]

I expect them to be able to do it, or at least to TRY by age 2/2.5. I expect them to be capable of it by 3 or so, even if it takes them a long time.

[Lilbutterflie]

Shoes are one thing, socks are another! I'd say most of mine are able to get their own shoes on between age 2-3; BUT it all depends on the parents and whether they work with them or not. Last year, a 3 1/2 yr old boy started part time with me and had absolutely no self help skills at all. I had to teach him everything from putting on his socks & shoes to dressing himself (in & out of his swimsuit). His parents do it all for him.

Socks are tricky though! I'd say by about age 4 they should be able to do socks. Some might be able to do it younger, but my experience has been age 4 with socks.

[Blackcat31]

I expect them to be able to do it, or at least to TRY by age 2/2.5. I expect them to be capable of it by 3 or so, even if it takes them a long time.

Same here. I have had kiddos that are early doers and some who are late doers. Just depends on the kid I guess and whether or not they were encouraged by the parents at home or if their parent does everything for them.

Had a kid a few years back who had a mom who literally did EVERYTHING for the child. He left for Kindy not having a clue how to put his own shoes on, despite the fact they were slip ons. I still don't know if it was laziness on his part or if he really had no self-help skills.

[Country Kids]

What about the right feet. I have 3/4 that still can't get them on the right feet and don't seem to care. They run and walk with them on the wrong feet!

[daycare]

I cant say that I expect a child to do something at a certain age, but once a child shows me once that they can do something on their own, I expect them to continue to do it on their own.

All children are different, some will do it early and some will do it later. When I read development charts, most of them say 3-4. But if you ask me, that is late......

[Childminder]

What about the right feet. I have 3/4 that still can't get them on the right feet and don't seem to care. They run and walk with them on the wrong feet!

I'd say 50/50 on the left/right and some like my 3.5yr will never figure the difference. I had one girl that 99% of the time put them on the wrong feet ( she probably still does).

[NiNi.R.]

All my kiddos 18 months and up grab their shoes and sit down and line up against the wall and put them on. I go down the line and help anyone who may need it and they must continue to try themselves until It's their turn for help. I find by age 2 they can usually do it themselves however, I in the last few months had a 3 year old enroll. He didn't have a clue. I ended up sticking him at the end of the line so he had more time to try it himself. I heard a lot of "I can't" and he heard a lot of "keep trying anyways"...after a couple of weeks he became a champ at it!

[Michael]

https://www.daycare.com/fastfacts/developmental_milestones.html