Tying shoelaces

A child may have difficulty tying shoelaces for a variety of reasons. They may have difficulty moving the laces in their hands to tie a bow. They may also have difficulty following the steps needed to tie their laces.

What you might see

• The child may be reluctant to try shoelaces.
• The child often walks around with laces undone and trailing.
• The child may seek help from others.
• Shoelaces tied in a knot and the child attempting to slip their foot in without undoing the shoelace.

Strategies and advice

• Replace thin shoelaces with something easier to grip. Soft, wide laces are ideal. Avoid round laces as they always tend to come undone.
• Practice with a shoe placed on a table surface instead of your foot as this is easier to see what you are doing.
• Shoelaces that are a different colour to the shoe will make it easier to see each step of the shoe lacing.
• You can join two different coloured shoelaces together, so that the shoe has a different coloured lace on each side. This will also make it easier to see how each lace needs to move when tying them together.
• There are two main methods for tying shoelaces. The one loop method and the two-loop method, sometimes called the ‘bunny ears’ method. Try both as your child may find one method easier than the other.
• You can find picture diagrams and videos online to help breakdown the steps for learning to tie shoelaces.
  It can be helpful to practice tying laces when there are less time pressures. For example, at the weekends or evenings.
• You can also practice tying knots and bows on other thing, for example presents, aprons and dressing gowns.

Last reviewed November 2025