Quick Answer:
Put shoes by the door the night before, offer a choice (left foot or right foot first), turn it into a race with a timer, and build in buffer time so you don’t have to rush.
You’ve called out “Hurry up and put your shoes on – we’re going to be late!” three times. Your child is sitting by the door, staring at their shoes, or swinging the laces around. Five minutes pass, and they still haven’t put one foot in. You’re getting frustrated, and they’re moving slowly. This is a struggle many parents face in the morning.
Move “shoe time” from morning to the night before
Many children are not fully awake in the morning, and their fine motor skills are still getting started. Try putting the next day’s shoes by the door the night before – laces loosened and shoe openings wide open. In the morning, all your child has to do is slip their feet in. Some parents find that cutting out the extra steps saves at least half the time.
Use a “choice” instead of saying “hurry up”
The more you say “hurry,” the slower some children go – often because they don’t actually know how to go faster. Try asking: “Do you want to put your left foot in first, or your right foot?” or “Do you want to sit down or stand up to put them on?” Giving your child a choice can make them feel like they’re in charge rather than being rushed. Many parents find that this leads to better cooperation.
Turn it into a simple game
Some parents use a phone timer and say: “Let’s race – can you get your foot in before I count to ten?” or “Let’s hop like bunnies, left foot in, right foot in!” A playful approach often works better than nagging.
One last thought: some mornings will be slow no matter what
Even when you do all of the above, some days your child just isn’t in the mood. Try building an extra 10 minutes into your morning routine so that a slow start doesn’t ruin the whole schedule. Allowing a slower morning once in a while can take the pressure off both of you.
