How To Tie A Shoe

Pattern library / 6 patterns

Teaching Kids to Tie Shoes

Most children can tie a bow somewhere between four and six years old. The method matters less than the practice surface, the lace type and how many steps you break it into.

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The footwear

A child's shoe with 3–5 eyelet pairs and a wide throat is easiest to learn on. Practice is much easier on a shoe off the foot, or on a lacing board, than on a shoe being worn.

The laces

Thick, flat, waxed or textured laces in two contrasting colours are dramatically easier for a beginner. Slippery round nylon laces are the single most common reason a child cannot make a knot hold.

All 6 patterns

schematic

Bunny Ears Method

Easy4 eyelet pairs

The bunny ears method makes two loops first and then ties them together, which is easier for small hands than wrapping one lace around a loop. It produces a standard bow.

Best for: First-time learners aged 4–6

Steps

  1. Cross the laces and pull one end under the other to make a starting knot.
  2. Make a loop, an ear, with each lace and hold one in each hand.
  3. Cross the two ears over each other.
  4. Push one ear through the hole underneath and pull both tight.

Tip
Two contrasting lace colours cut learning time roughly in half. Say 'the red ear goes through'.

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schematic

Around the Tree Method

Easy4 eyelet pairs

The around the tree method makes one loop, then wraps the second lace around it and pushes it through. It is the traditional adult method taught in slow motion.

Best for: Children who prefer a single-loop method

Steps

  1. Tie the starting knot and pull it snug.
  2. Make one loop, the tree, and hold it upright.
  3. Wrap the other lace all the way around the tree.
  4. Push the wrapped lace through the gap and pull both loops.

Tip
The wrap is where most children stall. Practise just the wrap, ten times, before adding the rest.

schematic

Two-Colour Practice Lacing

Easy4 eyelet pairs

Two-colour practice lacing joins two half-laces of different colours at the midpoint so a child can see exactly which strand does what at every stage.

Best for: Building the mental model

Steps

  1. Cut two contrasting laces in half and knot one of each together.
  2. Thread the joined lace so the knot sits at the bottom eyelet.
  3. Lace up so one colour runs on each side.
  4. Teach the bow using the colour names as instructions.

Tip
A lacing board made from stiff card and two colours works even better than a real shoe.

schematic

One-Loop Simple Knot

Easy4 eyelet pairs

The one-loop simple knot makes a single loop and tucks the other end through, giving a shoe that stays on and can be untied with one pull, as a stepping stone to a full bow.

Best for: Children not ready for a full bow

Steps

  1. Tie the starting knot.
  2. Make a single loop with one lace.
  3. Push the other lace through behind the loop without making a second loop.
  4. Pull the loop to tighten.

Tip
It slips more than a bow. Treat it as a two-week stage, not a permanent solution.

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schematic

Kids' Wide Bar Lacing

Easy4 eyelet pairs

Wide bar lacing on a child's shoe uses simple horizontal bars, which are easy for small hands to grip and pull open when the shoe needs to come off in a hurry.

Best for: Easy to see, easy to loosen

Steps

  1. Bar the lace across the bottom pair with the ends underneath.
  2. Take each end up two eyelets on the inside.
  3. Bar it across and back down.
  4. Alternate ends to the top.

Tip
Wide flat laces make the bars easy for a child to hook a finger under.

schematic

Elastic Lock Laces for Kids

Easy4 eyelet pairs

Elastic lock laces convert a child's shoe to slip-on with a spring toggle, which keeps the shoe on securely during the years before a bow is reliable.

Best for: Before a child can tie

Steps

  1. Remove the original laces.
  2. Thread the elastic cord in a criss-cross pattern.
  3. Fit the toggle and set the tension so the shoe pulls on snugly.
  4. Trim the cord and fit the end caps.

Tip
Set tension with the child standing, not sitting. The foot spreads under load.

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Questions about teaching kids to tie shoes

How many teaching kids to tie shoes patterns are there?
This library documents 6 distinct patterns for this category. Across the whole site there are 104 named lacing patterns and knots.
Which pattern should I start with?
Start with the first pattern listed, Bunny Ears Method. The bunny ears method makes two loops first and then ties them together, which is easier for small hands than wrapping one lace around a loop. It produces a standard bow.
What shoelaces do these patterns need?
Thick, flat, waxed or textured laces in two contrasting colours are dramatically easier for a beginner. Slippery round nylon laces are the single most common reason a child cannot make a knot hold.
Will a different lacing pattern really change how the shoe fits?
Yes, within limits. Lacing moves where pressure lands and how firmly the heel is held, which resolves most minor fit complaints. It cannot make a shoe that is the wrong length or width fit correctly.

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