Tightening shoe laces is a simple gesture for adults, but for little ones it can be a complicated process.

The ability to learn how to tie shoelaces usually begins between 4 and 6 years of age, but we recommend patience and encouragement above all else. Each child has their own pace and trying to rush can delay the process!

There are several methods used to help encourage this learning process. We will show three different ways, with adapted names and told step by step in a story, in order to encourage our children to learn in a fun way!

Rabbit ears

Two caterpillar friends met in the garden

( pull the ends of the laces );

They decided to go for a walk together and so they held hands

( tie a knot – initial node );

On the way, they met bunnies

( we folded two ends of the laces that resemble rabbit ears );

The rabbits invited us to come to their house for tea. They took each other's hands ( we crossed the two ties, as the initial knot is done ) and entered the house ( we passed the upper tie underneath );

At the end we tie a strong knot.

Snakes in the hole

Two caterpillar friends met in the garden

( pull the ends of the laces );

They decided to go for a walk together and so they held hands

( tie a knot – initial node );

On the way, they saw some snakes and shook each other's hands.

( they made a new knot, the same as the initial one but without closing );

They saw the little snakes going in and out of the hole

( pass each loose end of the shoelace through the hole left open from the previous knot and pull the loops until secure );

At the end we tie a strong knot.

Around the tree

Two caterpillar friends met in the garden

( pull the ends of the laces );

They decided to run a race together and so they joined hands

( tie a knot – initial node );

On the way, they saw a little bunny

( we folded one of the ends of the laces that resemble the rabbit's ear );

One of the friends who wants to win the race tells the other to go around the tree as there is another bunny there

( we cross the free shoelace around the already made ear with the other one, underneath, to make a new rabbit ear );

At the end we tie a strong knot.

With these fun techniques, kids will learn more easily how to tie their shoe laces independently, feeling capable and motivated to start a new day!

Watch the video on our Instagram with all these super fun techniques!