Ever since your toddler first started wearing shoes, it may have seemed like they were on a mission to get them off their feet! But now that they are becoming more capable of planned, controlled movements, your toddler will be less likely to randomly kick their shoes off, and start to take care and time over the process of putting them on and taking them off.
At this stage, we are only expecting your toddler to slip their feet into and out of certain types of shoe. Wellington boots, slippers and wide shoes are best for them to practise with. Footwear with laces – especially boots – are best kept for when their fine motor skills have developed a bit further, but shoes with zips, Velcro® or wide openings will help prepare them for these future types of footwear.
Skills used when putting on and taking off footwear
- Core strength – this will play a key part as it takes some force to pull on and off shoes while keeping the body stable!
- Balance – for now, your toddler will most probably sit down to get their shoes on and off. Sitting gives them a stable base of support. If they wobble or start to tip backward, encourage them to sit against a wall as they can bring their knees and feet closer to their body when they have support behind them.
- Rotating the trunk – you’ll see your toddler’s body twist as they move towards each foot.
- Control and coordination of upper joints and muscles – your toddler will be using their shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and fingers all at once when they’re putting on and taking off their shoes.
- Crossing the midline – their arms and hands move across the body. So when the right shoe is being put on, the left arm and hand move over to the right-hand-side of their body.
- Bilateral coordination – your toddler needs to use both hands at the same time and they might do different tasks, for example, one hand will hold the side of the shoe down while the other hand undoes the strap.
- Hand-eye coordination – look closely and you’ll see your toddler using clues from their vision to help guide what their hands need to do.
- Squeezing skills – they might have to pinch their shoes to help keep them still while pushing their feet in. They may also need to manipulate the sides of each shoe and make them wide enough for their foot to fit in. At first, you’ll probably need to help them open the shoe wide enough to get their foot in. When they are ready, show them how to pull each shoe wider. In time, they will copy what you are doing and give it a go themselves.
- Finger strength – your toddler will need strong muscles in their hands and fingers to keep those shoes where they need to be.
- Thinking skills – don't expect them to get it right straight away – your toddler will need to understand the process of getting shoes on and off, so taking it step by step will make it easier for them to learn.
- Listening skills – while they are learning, your toddler will be listening to you and trying to follow your instructions.
As with all skills, time and lots of practice will help them out enormously. Who knew so much went into the ‘simple’ act of slipping shoes on and off?