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Check out the May 2012 issue: raw stories, shocking confessions, candid advice about motherhood—and more!
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Pro Tip: Shoe Tying Made Easy
November 15th, 2011
Photography from iStockphoto.com
There are so many skills that children seem to just pick up on their own, without parents even noticing. There are, however, some other skills that seem to take a little bit more guidance—blowing bubbles, whistling and shoe tying. And if you’re anything like I am, you may find yourself with a child who never learned to tie his shoes, because he always wore slip-on or Velcro shoes, and because he simply never asked.
And that was how I recently ended up teaching two of my children to make “bunny ears” with their laces. The method is actually quite simple, and, personally, I think it’s the easiest way to teach kids to tie their shoes.
First, make a knot with the two laces. Take one lace in each hand, cross them to make an X. Then pull one lace underneath the other and pull tightly.
Second, create the “bunny ears” by making a loop out of each lace.
Then, cross the loops and make an X, the same way you did in step one, one on top of the other. Once again, pull one “ear” underneath the other and pull tightly.
Repeat. And then repeat again. And then repeat again. As your children get used to the motion and the steps, their loops will become tighter and they will become much more comfortable making bunny ears on their own.
Unless your children are older, like my son, and then you never want to mention bunnies or rabbits or any other animals at all.
How did you learn to tie laces? What method are you using to teach your own children?
—Ali, senior associate editor of CF.ca
Copyright © 2012 St. Joseph Media. All Rights Reserved.