Tie your shoes: Break down into simple steps.

Cross. 

Use the child's index finger on both hands to teach the concept of "Top/Over" and "Bottom/Under."  You can also teach the left and right side of his/her body at the same time.  But do not focus on too many things (left, right, top and bottom) at one time.  Focus on telling the top and bottom. 

One goes in and out.

Bring the bottom string in and out.  Again, teach the concept of "In" and "Out".  You see tying shoelace is not too simple.  It requires spacial perceptual skills very much.  

Pull each end.

Kids sometimes try to pull the each string upwards.  Demonstrate pulling to the side way like playing tug-of-war.  It is a good chance to teach kids directionality (up/down/sideways/opposite directions).   

Ta-da!! The first part is done.  Before we move on, I would like to point out that I made a mark on each string, approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of the string from the shoe. I used a marker on one side and a piece of tape on the other side.  It will give kids visual and tactile cues for next steps.  

Make a bunny ear. 

Make a bunny ear all the way down to the shoe (head of the bunny), not on the tail (end of the shoelace).  If making the bunny ear is too hard, tell him/her to pick up the dot (black mark on the string) and hold the both strings together at the bottom.

Grab the other shoelace.

Grab the Snake's body (piece of the tape on the other side).  Then give a gentle hug around the bunny.  Tell him/her not to give a hug too tight or too many times.  One time and gently hug is enough and sweet!

Push the shoelace through the hole.

Push the snake's body (tape) through the hole that the snake just made.  "The hole is right around your thumb." Sometimes I make a mark on kid's thumb nail with a washable color marker to give extra visual cues.  

Hold two loops.

Hold the tape and the dot. Pull-Pull-Pull! Another round of playing the Tug-of war.  

Ta-da!!

Of course, tying his/her own shoe is a different story.  But I believe this is the beginning.  I use this wooden toy shoe for the table-top activity because not all the kids wear shoes with shoelaces to school.  You can surely use child's own shoe at home.  Like I said in the previous blog, there are many more ways of tying shoelaces.  If one way is not working, then try another way.  But you have to give enough time to your child to learn.  

Enjoy teaching and Enjoy learning!!

Tie your shoes!

Throughout the school year, my kids in school (my workplace) practice tying their shoelaces during therapy sessions.  Experts say typically developing kids can learn tying  shoelaces at the age of 5-6 years.  There are so many different ways of tying shoelaces.  You can try different methods and find the one way that works for your child. Practice tying shoes with your child at home and boost his/her skills and confidence.   

This is one of many ways.  

1. Two untied shoelaces
2. Cross. One goes in and out.
3. Pull each end.
4. Make a bunny ear all the way down to your shoe: not too big, not too small.
5. Grab the other shoelace and go around the bunny ear one time. 
6. Push the shoelace through the hole and make another bunny loop. (You can put a little piece of tape around the shoelace for your child to push through the lace easily.)
7. Hold two bunny ears, one on each hand. 
8. Pull the bunny ears.

Corresponding Shoelace Story: "One-eared Bunny"

(This is a story that goes with the steps of tying shoelaces.)

(Complete step #1 to #3 before the story begins.) Long time ago, there was a bunny with only one ear (step #4).  So no one wants to be a friend of the bunny.  The bunny was sad and lonely.  One day, a snake came to the bunny.  The bunny was so scared.  But the snake said, "I want to be your friend."  The snake slithered around the bunny gently, not too tight (step #5).  Then he curved himself and gave the bunny another ear (step #6).  Finally, the bunny had two ears (step #7).  The bunny and the snake lived happily ever after (step #8).  The End. 

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