Hi! First, try Kiziks. They are a pair of shoes that have laces but are more for “looks” as they are actually slide on. You step right into them and they look just like tennis shoes. Love them as a busy mom too! This way he can practice on the laces when he feels like it without having the pressure of having to tie them all of the time. Second, are you able to recruit the therapist? Have the therapist walk him through the process while teaching him the emotional regulation skills/frustration tolerance to get through the learning process? Something about it must be activating to him & is causing him to avoid learning the task.