Easy and Cool Way for Kids to Tie Their Shoes!
October 21, 2020
OT Emily Menaker
Tying shoes can be a difficult skill to learn. Our wonderful OT Ms. Emily Menaker introduced us to a method originally developed by Kim Mickely, COTA and we have to say, we are on board! Thank you, Ms. Emily!
Steps to Tying Shoes:
- Straighten the laces and lay them on either side of the shoe
- Have the learner place their non-dominant hand behind their back
- Then have the learner raise their dominant hand and pick up the lace on the dominant side and cross it over
- With the same hand, cross the lace on the opposite side over to make an “X”
Practice the above steps until your learner can complete the steps independently (at least 5 times), with no promoting. This may take multiple learning sessions and that’s okay! Everyone learns at their own pace!
- With the non-dominant hand still behind their back, the learner will next slide the dominant side lace under the “X” and grab with the dominant hand.
- Use both hands to pull tight.
Practice the above steps until you learner can complete the steps independently (at least 5 times), with no promoting. This may take multiple learning sessions and that’s okay! Everyone learns at their own pace!
- Have the learner use their dominant hand to pinch the lace about 3 inches from the shoe (leaving a long tail) TIP: you can make a mark or use tape on the lace of where the learner needs to grab to help master this step!
- Push the lace to the shoe, creating a loop
Practice the above steps until your learner can complete the steps independently (at least 5 times), with no promoting. This may take multiple learning sessions and that’s okay! Everyone learns at their own pace!
- The learner will then use the non-dominant hand to pick up the other lace and wrap it around behind the loop toward themselves: clockwise.
- For the next step she has them make a fist with the non-dominant hand, and use that thumb to push the lace through the circle and away from their bodies, then hold it there.
Practice the above steps until your learner can complete the steps independently (at least 5 times), with no promoting. This may take multiple learning sessions and that’s okay! Everyone learns at their own pace!
- Next, the dominant hand drops its loop and grabs the lace resting in the non-dominant thumb and forefinger.
- Finally, the non-dominant hand grabs the other loop with its thumb and forefinger, and the learner will pull both loops sideways.
- Practice! Practice! Practice!
Tips:
- Start with having the learner practice on one shoe (foot out) by placing the shoe centered in front of them with the toe pointing out and the heel closes to their legs. Then move on to practicing with the shoe on their foot.
- Have the learner pull the “tails” of the laces, not the loops to untie their shoe. This will help keep the laces from knotting.
- Use laces that will be long enough to tie but short enough not to require a double knot!
- Modify the steps teach a double knot if necessary.
Good luck!
