Video Clips

A presentation of the

Washington State School

for the Blind
Brought to you by the Washington
State School for the Blind

Tying Your Shoes

These steps are written for right handed children; if your child
is left handed reverse the directions.
Brought to you by the Washington
State School for the Blind

Tying Your Shoes

You can teach your child to tie a shoe using a book that
has a picture of a shoe with an actual lace included on it.
Brought to you by the Washington
State School for the Blind

Tying Your Shoes

Have your child watch you tie by placing their hands on top of yours to get a
feeling for the motions used in tying. Explain the steps as you go through them.
Brought to you by the Washington
State School for the Blind

Tying Your Shoes

Talk about spatial concepts, up and down, front or back, right or left and
in front or behind. You should discuss and demonstrate what a loop is.
Brought to you by the Washington
State School for the Blind

Tying Your Shoes

•• Take
Take the
the child
child through
through the
the steps
steps verbally:
verbally:
•• Take
Take the
the right
right lace
lace and
and cross
cross itit over
over the
the left
left lace,
lace, grasping
grasping the
the laces
laces together
together where
where they
they have
have formed
formed an
an X.
X.
•• The right lace will go down, under and through the
The right lace will go down, under and through the left lace.left lace.
•• Grab
Grab the
the right
right lace
lace in
in your
your left
left hand
hand and
and the
the left
left lace
lace in
in your
your right
right and
and pull
pull them
them tightly.
tightly. You
You have
have formed
formed the
the first
first knot.
knot.
Brought to you by the Washington
State School for the Blind

Tying Your Shoes

•• Form
Form aa loop
loop holding
holding itit with
with your
your right
right index
index finger
finger and
and thumb
thumb close
close to
to the
the book
book or
or shoe.
shoe.
•• Take
Take the
the left
left lace
lace and
and go go around
around the
the loop.
loop. Feel
Feel for
for the thumb
thumb onon your
your right
right hand
hand and
and that’s
that’s where
where you
you will
will push
push the
the lace
lace
through.
through. Grasp
Grasp thethe emerging
emerging loop loop with
with your
your right
right thumb
thumb and
and index
index finger.
finger.
•• Slip
Slip your
your left
left hand
hand to
to the
the top
top of
of the
the left
left loop.
loop. Pull
Pull on
on both
both loops
loops until
until they
they are
are tight.
tight.
Brought to you by the Washington
State School for the Blind

Tying Your Shoes

Check by feel the length of your loops to make them even.

Check the length of the ties to make sure they aren’t too long.
Brought to you by the Washington
State School for the Blind

Tying Your Shoes

It takes a lot of practice and patience to learn tying. Use what works best with your child – a real shoe, laces
in a book, or ribbon with wire in it as it holds it shape better when making a loop. Don’t become discouraged
it will take time.
Brought to you by the Washington
State School for the Blind

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