These Songs and Poems to Help Kids Tie Their Shoes are not my own, I just collected the ideas I found around the internet and put them into one list. The following ideas were from here, here, and here.
Easy Rhyme
Make an X, here we go. Pull one side under, now I know! Pull the ends tight, and make a loop. Wrap around the bottom, I've got the scoop! Push through the hole, pull it through once more. Tighten both ends, and give a whoop!
Sing to the tune of “Splish, Splash,” by Bobby Darin:
Make an X and go under the bridge, then you have to pull it out tight. Make a loop and keep a long tail, that is how to do it right. Wrap that tail around the loop, push it through the hole and tug. Tighten those laces, whoop, whoop, now you deserve a great big hug!
Adventures of Batman
Batman was in his hideout (pull laces up and cross one under the other to form a tent shape) when it collapsed (pull on each end to make a tight knot). So he jumped into the Batmobile, (make first loop for bow) drove around the block, (wrap other lace around loop) and parked inside Robin's cave to create a plan (push lace under new loop and pull to tighten).
The Indian and Tepee Story
This story is great for a group activity where the children can help one another follow the story, and if you make pictures to go with the story the kids can follow the steps by themselves! The story also helps to limit the child’s frustration with learning to tie because they are helping the Indian to build a teepee and if they fail it is the Indian who needs more help!
An Indian made a teepee (pull lace up and cross one under the other) and it collapsed! (pull first knot down) So he started another, (make first loop for bow) and he took this string and went around it, (wrap other lace around loop) and went inside, (push lace under new loop) and there he had it! Two Tents! (pull loops for bow)
My Shoelace Blues
I've tried and tried to tie you, shoe.
I've never done it yet.
A loop that flip-flops on the floor
Is as close as I can get.
I've practiced on spaghetti.
I've practiced on the mop.
I've practiced on my sister
Until she made me stop.
So here's the loop again, shoe.
I'll hold it with my thumb.
I'll wrap the other end around...
And yank it into bows.
It's done!
Sad Rabbit
Once there was a rabbit that was very sad because his ears were so long and narrow that he stepped on them all the time. One day a fairy landed on the bunny's head. She lifted up the bunny's ears and crossed them over like an x. Then she put one ear through the bottom of the x and pulled. Next, she made each long ear into a loop and made another x like before. She put an ear under that x and pulled again. From then on the bunny remembered how to tie his ears into a bow, and he lived happily ever after.
Shoe Tying Song
(to Row Your Boat)
Cross the laces, make an X
Then you switch your hands
Pull them both out to the sides
And then we start again
Over, under, take one lace
Below the X down low
Grab the laces, pull them out
Now we’re set to go
Make a baby bunny ear
Pinch it way down low
Take the other lace around
This is what I know
Poke the lace under this ring
Grab it from the side
Pinch and pull both the loops
And now I know to tie
Author: Michele Kucera, OT
