How to Teach Your Kids to Tie Their Shoes

Co-authored by Catherine Palomino, MS

Last Updated: March 29, 2019 References

Once children develop their fine-motor skills, they become more independent and can do things themselves. If your child is 4- to 6-years-old and is able to button up their own shirt or draw with a pencil, they may be ready to learn how to tie their shoes. To show a child how to tie their shoes, demonstrate it in front of them and have them imitate your actions. If they are having trouble tying their shoes using the method you normally use, the “bunny ears” or “double loop” method may be easier for them to learn. ^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Showing Your Child How to Tie Their Shoes

1
Sit next to the child with a shoe in between your legs. Have the child sit on the floor and put their shoe in between their legs to imitate you. Explaining how to tie shoes to a child can be difficult, so showing them how to do it is usually the best approach. ^{[2]
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- Point the toe of the shoe away from you to emulate how the shoe will be positioned when it’s on their foot.
- Sit side by side with your kid so that they can copy your movements, giving them their own shoe so they can practice with you at the same time.
2
Tie your shoes slowly, step by step. Don't just tie your shoes and expect the child to copy you. Take enough time on each step so that the child fully understands each step. Go over each step in detail and explain exactly what to do to the child. Don't move onto the next step until your child has the current step down.
- If the child stumbles on a step, make sure that you are explaining it as clearly as possible so they can understand.
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3
Have the child repeat each step 4-5 times. Once they can complete one step, move onto the next step. If they don’t seem to understand how to do it, demonstrate the step again until they are able to copy you. This will build their muscle memory and will make tying shoes feel more natural to them. ^{[3]
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- The child may forget how to do steps along the way. In this case, just revisit the step again and have them repeat you.
Give your child a high five, sticker, or hug when they successfully copy you. This positive reinforcement will let them know that they are doing well and will encourage them to tie their shoes correctly. ^{[4]
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5
Practice on a larger shoe if they can’t tie their own laces. Children may have a hard time tying the smaller laces on their own shoes. Larger laces are easier for them to hold and manipulate. ^{[5]
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- Children’s fine-motor functions aren’t fully developed at a young age which makes it harder to tie small laces.
- You can also buy or make your own lacing board for them to practice on. To make one, punch 2 holes through a piece of cardboard and thread a shoelace through.
6
Use different colored laces if they are still struggling. Children may confuse the laces with each other if they are the same color. If they are still having trouble tying their shoes, lacing the shoe with 2 different colored laces will help the child differentiate them. ^{[6]
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- If you don’t have different colored shoelaces, you can color white shoelaces in with permanent marker.
Don’t show your frustration or annoyance or the child may feel the same way. Be calm and reassuring as they try to learn. If they are getting stuck at a specific spot, do something else for a while and revisit the lesson at a later time. ^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using the Bunny Ears Method

Cross the laces so that they create an X over the tongue of your shoe. If your child knows their letters, tell them to make an X with the laces. ^{[8]
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Pull on both ends of the lace to tighten them. See if your child can complete this initial step before moving onto the bunny ears. ^{[9]
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3
Create 2 loops on both ends of the laces to create the bunny ears. Make the loops about 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter. Create the loops near the initial knot that you tied, not at the end of the laces. Hold the laces with your index fingers and thumbs to hold the loops in place. ^{[10]
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- You can say something like, “Now make 2 bunny ears with the laces.”
4
Wrap the right bunny ear around the left bunny ear. Cross the loops into an X, then wrap the right loop under the left loop. Keep your thumbs and index fingers holding the loops as you wrap them so that they don't become undone. Leave 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) of lace on both free ends of the lace so that the knot doesn't come undone when you tighten the knot. ^{[11]
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- This is the most difficult part of tying shoes and is the step that your kids will most likely have to practice the most.
5
Pull the loops to tighten the knot. Put your index fingers inside of each loop and pull on them to finish tightening the knot. If you performed all the steps correctly, the shoes should be tied tightly. ^{[12]
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- To undo the knot, pull on the hanging lace at the end of one of the loops.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Teaching the Double Loop Method

1
Cross the right lace over and under the left lace and pull tight. Create an X with both laces. Then, take the end of the right lace and wrap it under the left lace to create a loop. Pull on both ends of the lace to tighten the loop. ^{[13]
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- The first step of the “bunny ears” and “double loop” method is the same.
Repeat the first step again, but this time don’t pull the ends of the laces tight. This should create a loose loop that rests on the tongue of your shoe and is about 2 in (5.1 cm) in diameter. Let go of both laces and let them hang down on the sides of the shoe. ^{[14]
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3
Thread the end of the left lace through the loop. Put the lace through the front of the loop, on the side facing you. This should create another loop to the left of the loose loop that you created initially. This loop should only be 0.5 in (1.3 cm) in diameter. ^{[15]
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- Pull on the end of the lace to make the loop smaller.
Repeat the process on using the other lace to create a loop on the right side of the shoe. This loop should also be 0.5 in (1.3 cm) in diameter. You should now have 3 loops in total; the left loop, right loop, and center loop. ^{[16]
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5
Pull on the new loops you created to tighten the shoes. Grab both loops with your index finger and thumb and pull them to the side. This should tighten the center loop and finish your knot. ^{[17]
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- While this method may seem harder to do, younger children may understand it better than the bunny ears method.
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Tips

Whichever method you choose to teach your kid, keep it consistent. Sticking to just one method will help them avoid confusion.

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How to Teach Your Kids to Tie Their Shoes

Steps

Showing Your Child How to Tie Their Shoes

Using the Bunny Ears Method

Teaching the Double Loop Method

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