Shoe Laces Are So Old School! Get With The Times and Use Elastolaces!

 I am right in the middle of teaching my kindergartner how to tie a shoelace. This is a necessary right of passage for any child. It's an opportunity to give them independence and to stroke their ego, showing the child that they are capable of learning new and important tasks. Tasks that were once relegated to the adults.

 As I have been teaching my daughter how to tie her shoes, I have wondered how I am going to teach this very same task to my son with Down syndrome. He has difficulty doing sign language because his fingers don't work independently yet. How will I teach him the intricacies of the dog running around the tree and under his leash?

 A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to try a new product called Elastolaces (found on Amazon) for free in exchange for an unbiased opinion. They gave me two pairs; one white set and a black set, along with several plastic pieces that are used to keep the laces from flopping all over. At fist, I was skeptical of them. I was afraid my shoes would be too loose, or the elastic would fray easily, leaving me with shoddy looking shoes. But once I had them on my shoes, I was impressed. The elastic was strong and resilient - not something that would easily lose it's stretch. And, though the plastic pieces used to keep the elastic in place are something I could expect my children to have enough finger strength to do on their own, once the laces are in place, they're solid.

 I worried that since there was another plastic piece at the end of the shoelaces to keep them from fraying, I'd constantly hear the tap tap tap of plastic hitting the top of my foot, but that wasn't the case. I ran several bleacher laps and didn't once feel or hear the slap of plastic on leather.

 I was impressed with the laces, and so was my 6-year-old daughter. I had to forcibly remove the extra set of laces from her hands. Though I have a feeling she will sweet talk me into using my second set of laces on her own tennis shoes...just as soon as she masters the age-old skill of tying her shoes with regular laces!


 P.S. I WILL be buying more of these when it's time to buy tennis shoes for my son who has Down syndrome. Right now he's young enough that he can still use velcro, but for those who have limited mobility, or are unable to reach their shoes very easily (elderly, obese, disabled, etc), these shoelaces are a God send. I highly recommend them!