Learning to tie your own shoelaces is right up there with losing your first tooth, learning to read, and finally managing that two-wheeler — it’s one of those childhood milestones that feels huge at the time and completely automatic afterwards.
Once a child gets the hang of it, they never think about it again. Getting there, though, can take a fair few tries, a lot of patience, and sometimes a completely different approach to the one you learned yourself. So we asked MyKidsTime parents to share what actually worked for their kids when it came to shoelace tying. Here’s what they told us.
Some tricks that might help
“Pop a lace through a piece of card and practise, then on a shoe on their lap, then with the shoe on. I used to paint the aglet on one end of the lace with a nail varnish colour different to the other, so it was easier to tell what end went where.” — Janet
“Get a book with laces sewn onto it and let the child practise — or make your own!” — Michelle
“Different coloured shoelaces make it easier to see which one to pull and loop.” — Jill
“Practising with empty shoes, on toy dolls, on grown-ups’ shoes — all of it helps.” — Latricia
“My child learned with a shoe-tying book I got from the library. That’s how she learned.” — Cherri
“Some kids just aren’t ready at the ‘normal’ age, and that’s fine — don’t force it. My oldest decided to teach himself at almost nine. My younger one still wasn’t ready at six and used elastic lace locks in the meantime.” — Gretchen
Some techniques to try
“Search ‘magic fingers shoe tying’ — it’s way easier.” — Fawn
“Rabbit ears, cross over, one goes under, pull.” — Nancey
“We taught our kids the ‘bunny ears’ method — crossing the two long laces first, then looping them like ears. My 20-year-old still ties her shoes that way, and her friends have a gentle laugh about it, but it works!” — Tracey
“Let the child sit behind you or alongside you so they can watch you tie your own laces from that angle — it makes a big difference.” — Stevie
“Start with two bunny ears and slowly graduate up to proper shoelace tying.” — Jean
“Loop, swoop and pull. Worked for my little girl. And practice, practice, practice.” — Lora
“We did ‘rabbit ear, rabbit ear, round we go, into the hole and pull tight.'” — Belynda
“Video tutorials worked really well for my kids.” — Kristy
You may need to be patient
“Patience, lots and lots of patience.” — Andrea
“Patience, and trying over and over — they will get it. Allow lots of time.” — Vera
“Just go slow and show them, again and again.” — Miranda
Every child gets there in their own time, with their own method. If one approach isn’t clicking, it’s worth trying a completely different one from this list rather than repeating the same steps over and over. And if your child isn’t ready yet, that’s completely normal too — there’s no rush.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age do most children learn to tie their shoelaces?
There’s no fixed age — some children pick it up around five or six, while others aren’t ready until eight or nine. It depends on fine motor development and interest, so try not to compare against other kids.
What’s the easiest method to teach a young child?
Many parents find the “bunny ears” or “loop, swoop and pull” methods easiest for beginners, since they involve fewer steps than the traditional single-loop method. Practising on a shoe-tying book or a lace threaded through card, away from the pressure of a real shoe, often helps too.
What if my child is struggling and getting frustrated?
Take a break and come back to it another day. Short, relaxed practice sessions work better than one long frustrating one. Elastic laces or lace locks are a handy temporary solution while your child keeps developing the skill at their own pace.
Should I show them or let them figure it out themselves?
A bit of both. Demonstrating slowly, ideally sitting beside or behind your child so they see the laces from the same angle they’ll be tying them, then letting them have a go themselves, tends to work best.
Related Articles
- 30 Life Skills Every Kid Should Learn
- Fun Ways to Build Your Child’s Fine Motor Skills
- Getting Your Child Ready for Big School
Browse More Family Tips
Looking for more everyday parenting wins like this one? Have a browse through our family life section for more simple tips that make daily routines that little bit easier — and feel free to save this page for the next time you’re working on shoelaces with your little one.
Get More Ideas Like This
Want handy parenting tips like these delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the MyKidsTime newsletter for a weekly dose of family ideas, activities and practical advice — no spam, just the useful stuff.
—
Over to you now — do you have a tip for teaching your child to tie their shoelaces? Share it with us in the comments below.
