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Learning to tie your shoes is a right of passage. Children are naturally super proud of themselves when they finally accomplish this essential life skill, but reaching that end goal can be tricky, frustrating, and time-consuming. Make the task easier, more fun, and faster with any of these thirty great tips for teaching a preschooler how to tie their own shoes.
1. Practice off the foot
Lace up a pair of shoes and have your preschooler practice tying them while they are not wearing them. This allows them to maneuver the shoes to get the hang of tying a bow. Click here for a video that shows how.
2. Use two different colors
Choose shoelaces in two different colors and lace up your preschooler’s shoes. This can make tying a bow much easier because they can see what color goes where as they tie a bow.
3. Try one step at a time
Instead of practicing the entire process of tying a pair of shoes, have your preschooler practice the first step over and over until they master it, and then add the second step and so on until they can complete the entire process on their own.
4. Use rope
Instead of starting with shoelaces, teach your preschooler to tie a bow using a piece of rope. The rope is bigger, which can make it easier to get the hang of before moving on to thinner shoelaces.
5. Use pipe cleaners
Pipe cleaners are stiff, which makes it easier to grasp and maneuver them. Practice with loose pipe cleaners first and then lace up a pair of shoes with pipe cleaners for more focused practice.
6. Practice with wire-edged ribbon
Like pipe cleaners, wire-edged ribbon doesn’t lose its shape as your child practices and is available in a variety of widths to practice with.
7. Try a jump rope
A jump rope is another tool that makes learning to tie shoes easier because it is so large. Your preschooler can practice making a bow with something large and then gradually work their way to shoelaces.
8. Sit behind your child
Situate yourself behind your child and demonstrate how to tie a pair of shoes. This gives your child the same view they’ll have when they are ready to practice on their own.
9. Watch a video
Search for short videos that demonstrate shoe-tying in a kid-friendly way. You might even find videos that feature your child’s favorite characters.
10. Have a sibling do the teaching
Young children look up to their siblings, so you can encourage that bond by having the older child teach the preschooler. Children are often more patient and willing to try when other children are the ones doing the teaching.
11. Read a book
There are numerous books on the market that teach kids to tie their shoes. Many of these books also include hands-on shoelaces to practice with as they read.
12. Sing a song
Make up a little song that teaches the steps in tying shoes. Better yet, have your child make up a song, because they’ll be more likely to remember it as they learn to tie their shoes.
13. Recite a rhyme
Find a shoe-tying rhyme online or make up one of your own. Your preschooler can recite the rhyme as they complete each step of tying their shoe.
14. Make a cardboard shoe
Cut out a shoe shape from a piece of cardboard. Punch holes in the cardboard and lace it with shoelaces, string, rope, or pipe cleaners. Your child can practice tying a bow wherever they are, such as in the car or waiting in line.
15. Grab an egg carton
Turn a cardboard egg carton upside down, punch holes in the cups, and lace the carton with string or shoelaces so your child has an easy, and portable, way to practice.
16. Use toys
Purchase a wooden shoe toy designed specifically for teaching a child to tie their shoes. Like the homemade cardboard versions, your child can practice wherever they are.
17. Practice on a partner
Invite a fellow preschooler over to join your child. Have them practice tying each other’s shoes.
18. Become the teacher
Ask your preschooler to try to teach their stuffed animals or younger brothers and sisters how to tie a pair of shoes. Teaching a skill is a great way to reinforce the techniques necessary to be successful.
19. Take or draw pictures
Take a few photos of yourself or another adult tying their shoes or draw some images. Use them as visual cues to help your child grasp each of the steps necessary to their own laces.
20. Give a visual cue
Telling your child to make bunny ears can be more effective than using terms like “loops.” When preschoolers are able to visualize something they know about, like bunnies, it makes it easier to form the shoelaces into the correct shape to be successful.
21. Talk it out
Give gentle directions as your child practices. Remind your preschooler of the first step and give guidance and encouragement as they practice, repeating as many times as necessary. Continue with each step and then cheer when the task is complete.
22. Use preschool-friendly language
Avoid using words like “left” and “right,” especially if your preschooler can’t distinguish between the two yet. Instead give cues like “the hand you color with” so they know exactly what they need to do.
23. Set up an obstacle course
Create several fun and quick activities for your child to complete and make tying a shoe one of them. This takes the pressure off and makes the activity fun.
24. Have a race
Challenge your child to a race to see who can tie their shoes first. This works best when your child has already had a lot of practice. Of course, tie your own shoes slowly so your preschooler gets the glory of winning!
25. Set a timer
Decide on a short amount of time, such as two minutes, and set a timer. Encourage your preschooler to tie and untie his shoes as many times as possible before the timer goes off.
26. Close your eyes
Once your preschooler has had plenty of practice and is comfortable with the steps, ask them to tie their shoes with their eyes closed. This helps them visualize each step, so they are able to quickly tie their shoes.
27. Don’t lace the top holes
Skip the top holes so the shoelaces are longer. The longer the shoelaces are, the easier it will be for your preschooler to tie them.
28. Mark the shoelaces
Use a marker to make a dot on each shoelace where your child will make the loop or put one loop under the other. This visual cue can help your preschooler know just what to do.
29. See your pediatrician
If you’re concerned that your preschooler just isn’t catching on or if they are more frustrated than excited about tying their shoes, make an appointment with a pediatrician. A doctor can give you tips or reassure you that your child will reach this milestone.
30. Practice, practice, practice
The more your child practices, the more quickly they’ll learn to tie their own shoes. Set aside a few minutes each day to do focused practice.
Don’t rush your child through learning to tie their shoes. Make it fun and enjoy watching your child reach one of their big milestones!
