How to Teach a Child to Tie a Shoe

Young children learn things best when there is a story line or strong sequence to grasp in their minds. With this thought in your mind, teach your child to tie a shoe using this simple story

Tie a Knot

Your first step is to tie a simple knot and hold the laces so the knot doesn’t get away. And now the actual story begins.

“Once there was a tree.”

As you tell your child about the tree, create one by helping her make a loop with one of the laces.

“And a rabbit saw the tree.”
Hold the other lace firm and raise it up.

“The rabbit decided to run all the way around the tree.”

Wind the “rabbit” lace about the “tree” lace.

“Then he got tired, so he popped into his burrow to rest.”

Thread the middle of the “rabbit” lace into the “burrow” hole created by spreading your fingers wrapped inside the wound lace.

“See? Here’s the rabbit!”

Pull the two loops tightly to create a “rabbit ears” bow.

You’ll need to show your child many, many times over many days how to tie the shoes correctly and expect your child to falter a bit many times over. Praise her efforts and offer assistance only when her frustration becomes too great for her to work through or she requests it. The challenge of learning is paid off in success. The reward is much sweeter when she learns it “by herself.”

Easy Step By Step

1. 1. Start with a simple knot.
2. 2. Create a simple story your child can recite in her mind while she ties her shoe.
3. 3. Match the parts of the story, such as the one above, with the correct action.
4. 4. Practice repeatedly together and let her try on her own without interference.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions

Children learn much by watching – even when you don’t realize they are paying attention. If your child is struggling to learn, but is embarrassed or stubborn to ask for help, start telling the story and doing highly dramatized motions every time you tied your own shoes in her presence. Simply seeing and hearing the story and motions over and over again will help her make progress.

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How to Tie a Shoe

Are the days of Velcro coming to a close? When you’re ready to tackle shoelaces, you’re ready to tie a shoe.

Preparing the Shoe

Once your foot is inside the shoe, pull the laces comfortable tight. There should be one on either side of your foot through the last eyelet ready to lace.

Tie a basic knot in the laces. (Pass one lace over and around the other.)

The Loop

Then, keeping the laces firm to not let your knot slip away, make a loop with one lace and hold it tightly with your right hand.

With your left hand, grab the other lace and wind it around your loop and the fingers of your right hand holding it.

Spread the fingers of your right hand to create a hole inside the looped lace between the knot and the actual loop. Bring the middle of the lace being guided by your left hand into the loop creating a second loop.

Grasp the top of both loops and pull the bow firm.

Easy Step By Step

1. 1. Tie a simple knot using both laces.
2. 2. Make a loop with the right lace.
3. 3. Wind the left lace around the loop.
4. 4. Thread the middle of the left lace between the knot and the loop by spreading your right fingers.
5. 5. Grasp and pull both loops into a tight bow.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions

If you pull on your loops and wind up with a knot instead of a bow, untie the knot and try again creating much smaller loops to give you more lace to pull in the final step.

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