The Fine Art of Tying Shoelaces

The Fine Art of Tying Shoelaces

Teaching children to tie their shoes can be quite an adventure, full of laughs, tangles, and triumphs. While it may seem like a small task, mastering this skill builds confidence and enhances fine motor development. Here’s a quick guide to help your child tie their shoes. This also means you won’t have to tie them. It’s a win-win.

Why It Matters

Seems something kids will just pick up by themselves but learning to tie shoes is more than just a practical skill. It gives them independence, boosts self-esteem, and develops fine motor skills, coordination, and dexterity. Plus, it gives your little one a whole new range of super cool lace-up shoes to choose from! 

Introduction

First, you need to start by explaining why tying shoes is important, which can be hard in the face of convenient velcro straps. So show them your own shoes and how you tie them, maybe with a little flair. I’m talking dramatic slow-motion tying with sound effects like “Whoosh!” and “Ta-da!”

Choose the Shoes

Make sure their first lace-up shoes have thick, round laces that are easier to handle. Avoid slippery or too-short laces because nobody wants a lace escape artist. Also, make sure the shoes are amazing to look at to keep their interest.

Practice

Use a large shoe model or a pair of oversized shoelaces attached to a cardboard cutout. It’s like practising on giant shoes for a giant. Who wouldn’t find that amusing?

Bunny Ears Method

• One of the simplest methods for beginners is the bunny ears technique 
• Make two loops (bunny ears) with the laces.
• Cross the loops to form an ‘X’ and tuck one loop under the other.
• Pull the loops tight to form a knot.

*Though be careful, there are grown men and women who still use the bunny ears, as it was how they were taught. So consider if you want bunny ears to feature in your child's forties and fifties. 

Traditional method

Either start with this or wait until they have mastered Bunny ears first.

• Start with the basic knot.
• Create one loop and wrap the other lace around it.
• Pull the second lace through the hole and tighten.

Of course, practice makes perfect so make shoe-tying into the daily routine. Encourage the child to tie their shoes every morning before school or during playtime.

Celebrate small successes and encourage perseverance. Throw a mini-party every time they get a knot right. Confetti, high-fives, the works. Remember, no celebration is too over-the-top for this achievement.

Challenges

Every child learns at their own pace, and some may find tying shoes more challenging than others. It’s important to be patient, trust me they will get it eventually. If your child gets upset or frustrated, just take a break for a week or so and come back to it.  Also, using different coloured laces for each side can help the child distinguish between the steps more easily.

Remember, the goal is not just to teach them how to tie their shoes but to create a memorable, fun-filled learning adventure. It is a great low-pressure skill they can take their time learning. Now, go forth and conquer those laces with a laugh!