How to Tie Shoes for Kids: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

A simple way to teach kids to tie shoes is the Bunny Ears method: make the starting knot, form two loops, cross them, push one loop through the opening, and pull both loops tight. ^[1][2]

For beginners, make the task easier before expecting the full bow. Practice with the shoe off the foot, use easy-to-grip laces, and teach one consistent sequence. If progress stalls, focus on the exact movement causing difficulty.

When Are Kids Ready to Learn to Tie Shoes?

There is no single age when every child should be able to tie shoelaces.

The task requires both hands to do different jobs while the child remembers a sequence. Occupational therapy guidance notes that children may struggle with manipulating the laces, following the steps, or both. ^[3]

Useful readiness signs include being able to:

• use both hands together;
• pinch and hold a small loop;
• pull two lace ends in opposite directions;
• copy a short sequence of actions;
• stay with the task long enough to practice.

These signs are more useful than a specific birthday.

A child who is not ready for the full sequence can still practice individual movements such as crossing the laces, tightening the starting knot, or holding a loop.

Set Up Practice Before Teaching the Knot

Making the setup easier often makes the movement easier to learn.

Start With the Shoe Off the Foot

Put a clean shoe on a table or in the child’s lap, with the toe pointing away from them.

This gives the child a clear view and removes the awkward bending required when the shoe is already on the foot. Somerset and Derbyshire NHS occupational therapy guidance both recommend beginning with the shoe on a table. ^[3]

Demonstrate From the Child’s Viewpoint

Avoid teaching from directly opposite the child if possible.

Derbyshire NHS recommends sitting behind the child so the hand movements appear in the same direction.

For a left-handed child, the sequence may need to be demonstrated in reverse rather than forcing them to copy right-handed movements exactly.

Use Easy-to-Hold Practice Laces

Useful choices include:

• two contrasting colors;
• flat rather than thin round laces;
• slightly wider, easy-to-grip laces;
• laces that contrast clearly with the shoe.

West Suffolk and Derbyshire NHS both recommend different-colored and flat or thicker laces to make the movements easier to see and control. ^[2]

Two colors also make instructions simpler:

“Blue over red”

is clearer than:

“Put this lace over the other lace.”

If normal shoelaces are still difficult to handle, West Suffolk NHS suggests first practicing the knot on something larger, such as a dressing-gown belt. ^[2]

Practice Without Time Pressure

Practice when the child is not rushing to get out the door.

Somerset NHS recommends learning at lower-pressure times such as evenings or weekends. ^[3]

Keep practice short enough that the child can finish with some success. If one movement repeatedly breaks down, practice that movement separately instead of restarting the entire sequence.

How to Tie Shoes for Kids: The Bunny Ears Method

The Bunny Ears method uses two loops and provides a clear visual sequence for beginners. ^[1][2]

Step 1: Make an X

Hold one lace in each hand.

Cross one lace over the other to form an X.

Step 2: Tuck and Pull

Take one lace through the opening beneath the X, then pull both ends sideways until the starting knot sits close to the shoe.

If the knot repeatedly loosens while the child is learning, West Suffolk and Derbyshire occupational therapy guidance suggests wrapping through the first knot twice before tightening it. ^[2]

Step 3: Make Two Bunny Ears

Make one loop with each lace.

Pinch both loops near their bases while leaving a tail below each one.

Step 4: Cross the Ears

Cross one loop over the other.

A small opening will form between them.

Step 5: Push One Ear Through

Push part of the loop that crossed on top through the opening between the two loops. Keep it folded as a loop rather than pulling the loose lace all the way through.

Step 6: Pull the Ears Tight

Hold one loop in each hand and pull them sideways until the bow tightens against the first knot.

A short verbal cue can help the child remember the sequence:

X → tuck → pull → two ears → cross → through → pull

Keep the wording consistent from one practice session to the next. ^[1]

Bunny Ears vs Loop-Swoop-Pull: Which Method Should You Teach?

Some children find a one-loop method easier than making two loops first.

The starting knot stays the same. The bow changes:

1. Make one loop.
2. Hold it near its base.
3. Wrap the loose lace around the loop.
4. Push a section of that lace through the opening.
5. Pull the two loops apart.

Both one-loop and two-loop methods are used in current NHS occupational therapy guidance, and an individual child may find one set of hand movements easier than the other. ^[3]

Use one method consistently long enough for the sequence to become familiar. If the same hand movement remains the sticking point, then test the alternative method rather than switching back and forth during each practice session.

Why Is My Child Struggling to Tie Shoes?

Instead of treating the whole task as the problem, look for the exact step where it breaks down.

Somerset NHS identifies both lace manipulation and remembering the sequence as common sources of difficulty. ^[3]

Practice the Sticking Point Separately

If the child cannot make a loop, practice only:

make a loop → hold it → release it

If the starting knot is the problem, work on that knot alone. Isolating the difficult movement is more useful than repeating the entire six-step sequence after the same point of failure.

Try Backward Chaining

Backward chaining lets the child master the end of the task first.

1. The adult completes most of the shoe-tying sequence.
2. The child performs only the final pull.
3. Once that becomes easy, the child performs the final two steps.
4. Continue working backward until the child can complete the whole sequence.

Somerset NHS occupational therapy guidance specifically recommends backward chaining for shoelace tying so the child is always the person who finishes the task. ^[3]

From Practice Shoe to Independent Shoe Tying

Once the child can tie a stable practice shoe, gradually transfer the same sequence to the position and footwear they use every day.

Stage 1: Practice on a Table

Keep the shoe stable and easy to see while the child learns the full sequence.

Stage 2: Practice in the Lap

Move the shoe closer to the body while keeping a comfortable viewing angle.

Stage 3: Tie the Shoe While Wearing It

Once the sequence is reliable, practice with the shoe on the foot.

Derbyshire NHS suggests experimenting with positions such as sitting on the floor, sitting on a chair, or resting the foot on a low support.

Stage 4: Use the Skill in Daily Routines

Practice before leaving the house, after changing footwear, or at another normal point in the day.

Gradually reduce adult help.

The goal is not the fastest bow. It is a knot the child can make securely and repeat independently.

When Alternative Closures Make Sense

Traditional shoelaces are not the only practical option.

A child who is still learning the hand movements may need an easier closure for school or other situations where independent, quick footwear changes matter.

Derbyshire NHS suggests alternatives including hook-and-loop closures, slip-ons, elastic/no-tie systems, and lace-up shoes or boots with side zips when conventional tying remains difficult.

Alternative closures can support daily independence while the child continues practicing traditional shoe tying separately.

Types of Shoe Closures: Uses, Benefits and Best Fit

Conclusion

Teaching kids to tie shoes works best when the task is small, visible, and consistent.

Practice first with the shoe off the foot, teach one method at a time, and look for the exact movement that causes difficulty. If the full sequence is overwhelming, break it into smaller skills or use backward chaining.

The simplest approach is:

set up the shoe → teach one method → find the sticking point → practice in small steps → transfer the skill to the worn shoe.

References

^[1] Raising Children Network. How to Tie Shoelaces: Teaching Kids. Last reviewed January 6, 2025.

^[2] West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Paediatric Occupational Therapy. Tie a Shoe Lace – Bunny Ears Method.

^[3] Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. Tying Shoelaces and School-Age Fact File: Tying Shoelaces. Last reviewed November 2025.