How to Teach a Child to Tie a Shoe

Make sure that your child's shoes have wide laces that are easy to grasp

Learning to tie your own shoes is a major step toward independence. It means that you can dress yourself entirely without help and gives you a sense of control over where you will go since you no longer have to request aid before going outside. Teaching a child to tie a shoe can be a challenging task, but it is an important step for them and for you as a parent. Tying their own shoes is also a simple safety issue. A child that runs with an untied shoe is much more likely to trip and fall.

Instructions

1. 

   Sit side by side. Having the same perspective will help your child mimic your actions.

2. Hold an untied shoe between your upper legs or knees. The shoe should be facing away from you so that it is in the position that your own shoe would be in if you bent to tie it.

3. Instruct your child to hold one end of the shoestring in each hand. Everything you tell them to do, you should also do so that they can copy you.

4. Cross the laces so that they form an "X" in the air.

5. Wrap the bottom lace of the X over and through the top lace of the X. When it is pulled tight, this will form the base of the shoelace bow.

6. 

   Fold each end of the lace into a singe "bunny ear." You can hold the "ears" in place between your thumb and pointer finger on each hand.

7. Cross the bunny ears so that they form an "X" in the air.

8. Loop the bottom bunny ear over and through the top bunny ear. This will create a second knot.

9. Pull the bunny ears out to the side away from the shoe. This will create a square knot that will not easily come undone and will hold the shoe in place.

10. 

    Practice until your child can tie the entire thing without watching you. Then, they are ready to put their shoes on and tie them all by themselves.