Knotting and tying shoelaces is a challenge for many children. Tying shoes independently requires dexterity and the cognitive ability to remember the individual steps. How do you help your child to tie their shoes themselves?

 

 

It makes little sense to start the learning process before the child is 4 or 5 years old. Girls usually master tying shoelaces better than boys at around the age of 6. Boys need longer and can only do it at the age of 7. 

As a parent, you often have to show children how to tie their shoelaces. It is important to demonstrate it from the child's perspective. So sit behind the child and reach through their arms. It is best to place a shoe lace on the table, as it is much more difficult at the beginning to tie the laces on your own foot in a bent position. 

The toe of the shoe is placed away from the body so that the child sees it from the same perspective as later on the foot. 

 

Of course, it only makes sense to show the binding as long as the child is interested and watching. 

 

 

The shoe tying process must be divided into individual steps so that the child can follow the process. This also makes it easier to remember afterwards. After a few demonstrations, practise together with the child. Each step should be commented on. If the joint tying works, let the child try it alone and give them the same verbal instructions as before. 

 

Once the child has understood the process, all that remains is to practise until the process becomes automatic.