Hi everyone! I’m a mom of three and have had to teach three kids how to tie their shoes. It’s strange how each kid is a bit different in how they learn. Some learn the traditional way, others using toys and tools, and some using songs and imagination.
I can tell you right now the main thing you want to have is patience 🙂 Your child will get frustrated, as kids do, so you need to be steady and calm and encourage them. My daughter’s school forced it by having a contest so we had to quickly push her to do it so she wouldn’t feel bad.
If you have a TOY, it makes the process that much less painful to them. It becomes something fun, not a chore they have to learn and dread. I want to show you ten of the best toys you can get to help teach your kid how to tie his or her shoes.
#1 – Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wood Lacing Sneaker
Learning how to tie their shoes can be a big step for a child and it’s made easier when he or she can learn by using a toy. With its wood pieces shaped like a tennis shoe, kids as young as 3 find it easy to use. The shoe has a long, thick string that’s easy to hold onto – and kids can have fun while practicing. An important part of learning how to tie shoes is learning how to lace up the shoe. This wooden toy has wide shoelace holes that are easy for little fingers to guide the laces through.
I like the look of this one and I think it’d be perfect for younger kids getting their hands familiar with the process. Bright red colorful toys always grab my attention anyway 🙂 And, once your kid is done with learning how to tie their shoelaces, introduce them to the story of the old woman who lived in a shoe and give them some tiny action figures to use with it. LOL!
#2 – Toyvian Children Shoelace Threading Teaching Toy
Kids can quickly learn how to tie shoes with this set of 2 shoes and decorative laces that lace up just like a real shoe does. The shoes are made of sturdy plastic and since it’s a multiple set, it’s great for families with twins or teachers who need to help students learn how to tie their shoes. The shoes come with an easy to follow instructional card.
Colorful option and perfect for small hands, too.
#3 – PlanToys Plan Preschool Tie-Up Shoe Preschool
This wooden shoe is environmentally as well as kid safe and you can use it for babies as well as toddlers. The wood is recycled and the paint used is non-toxic. The loops are large enough to make it easy for little fingers to thread the shoelace through as they learn how to tie a bow. Kids love to play with the shoe as well and by threading the lace through the hoops, it helps your child grow his fine motor skills.
So tiny and cute! This is for eco-friendly parents who want safety as a paramount option. It’s a good, green product – and it looks like a baby shoe, so I’d use it on younger tots.
#4 – LUOZZY 10 Sets Shoe Trying Practice for Kids
Tying a shoe isn’t easy but there’s a toy that can help your child learn fast. The colorful shoes are made on a sturdy paper material and make a fun threading game for kids. The laces have a board where it shows kids in which order to do each type of thread and there are several to choose from.
Now I love that this one teaches right and left in addition to tying shoes. This is one of the methods that teach the skill with a game, so it has all elements involved – fun, memory, and additional lessons!
#5 – Montessori Toddler Busy Board with Shoe Typing Practice
Kids love playing with a variety of educational material and when it comes in the form of a board with many options, it’s even better! This Montessori Toddler Busy Board helps them master the art of tying their shoes. The toy is designed to teach kids skills such as buttoning, zipping and snapping along with tying. The shoelaces are built into the shoes and kids can tie them quickly. This is a great way to teach kids the basics.
I bought this for one of my sons. It helped him learn more than just tying his shoes – it has the zipper, the buttons, the snaps, etc. So it’s a comprehensive toy I can personally recommend.
#6 – How to Tie Your Shoes and Tell Time
Even if your child can’t read yet, this set can help him learn how to tie his shoes. It teaches children to tie shoes in a way that’s fun as well as educational using board books – and not only does it come with a shoe tying book, but one for telling time, too! The book looks like real sneakers and includes 4 different sets of instructions for crisscross, bunny ears, loop bows and double knots. It can help build their hand and eye coordination. This is a great idea to have for classroom use too.
Another toy fitting for a classroom or multi-kid environment. You could also let your child collect them once they master each one!
#7 – Alex Toys Learn to Dress Kitty
Kids learning how to dress themselves and tie their own shoes is one of the first steps of independence. Kids can explore the 11 different activities that are part of this cuddly kitty. These activities include learning how to put buttons through buttonholes, zipping up a pocket and learning how to tie shoes. The socks and shoes are removable and kids love getting the kitty ready in the mornings by putting on their stuffed ‘friend’s’ shoes and tying them.
I like the kitty almost better than I do Elmo. Shhh, I know it’s sacrilegious to say things like that about a Sesame Street character, but this monkey is so CUTE! And it has all of the other elements on it too, like zippers, snaps and buttons. Precious!
#8 – Alex Ready, Set, School Activity Box, Alex Little Hands Series
This learning kit is packed full of activities. Using the ‘learning is fun’ teaching method, your child will be taught important skills while he’s playing. He’ll learn his letters and numbers, how to use scissors, how to tie his shoes and more. This set is great to have for kids in order to prepare them to begin school.
This kit I adore because it has all sorts of stuff they have to know to get ready for school – not just the shoe tying part. They learn their motor skills. But Moms, please don’t fret if you’re on your first child and some teacher says your child’s motor skills are weak. They did this to my first son and he was just fine. I panicked seeing his gentle writing thinking something was wrong. It wasn’t. LOL!
#9 – OVOY Children’s Lacing Skills Learn-to-Tie Shoe
It can be hard for little fingers to keep the shoelaces tight and that’s a necessary part of being able to tie a bow. This toy can help keep the shoelaces tight while your child learns. It’s great for use in teaching single or double loops. The design of the toy enables your child to learn each step needed for tying his shoes. The toy can also help your child to practice on his own.
This is made of This is a cute “take with you” idea so when your child is at preschool or school and their shoe comes untied, they’ll be able to handle it without you.
#10 – Busy Board Toddler Backpack Learn to Tie Shoes
For a child, part of growing up is learning how to dress himself and how to tie his shoes. This learning backpack can help your child to get a grasp on the basics he needs to know. This backpack learning toy has several skills it teaches, including steps like buttoning, buckling, zipping and shoe tying. The colorful backpack has room inside so you can take it on the go and pack up some necessities or toys, too!
I like this one, too – it’s like the dolls with multiple things to master for fine motor skills. It’s unique and that’s what’s important – giving your kid a toy he or she hasn’t always had, like teddy bears.
Tying shoes is important. As a mom of three, I’ve been there. You want your kid tying as fast as possible. Teachers are nagging you because they don’t want to have to tie your kid’s shoes – and with velcro on the market, who needs shoelaces anyway?
But take my advice – go ahead and teach them early. Let them develop their own pace and desire to learn. Don’t be too pushy. They’ll do it because that’s what kids do – they can’t stand having a toy sitting there that they can’t use. 🙂
Tiff