Learning to tie a bow: This is how it is made difficult for children
Tying the bow – what is a piece of cake for adults, children have to learn relatively laboriously. Because it takes a lot of dexterity and, above all, practice until the perfect bow is in place. So it’s no wonder that fewer and fewer children can tie a bow? No, because there are many factors that make learning difficult. Here you can find out how children find it difficult to tie their shoelaces and how it still works.
From around the age of five, children can learn to tie the bow. A high level of fine motor performance, which they tackle with a mature spatial imagination, good eye-finger coordination and a lot of dexterity. At this age they are also very good at controlling their strength. So basically every child can tie a bow and thus their own shoelaces – why then do so few do it?
Tie a bow: Few children can do it
In fact, according to statistics from 2018, while 89% of children between the ages of two and five can use a computer mouse, 63% can turn the PC on and off, 58% can play a simple PC game, but only 11% know how to lace tie. That’s frightening, isn’t it?
However, it is not usually the case that children are naturally reluctant to learn to tie bows and shoelaces. On the contrary. It is often the children who, out of curiosity, send the signal to their parents that they want to tie their own shoelaces. However, parents and children are being made quite difficult to implement this wish and this is worrying and unfortunate.
Learning to tie a bow: hurdles in everyday life
As with just about anything new to learn, practice makes perfect. Both children and parents need time and patience to learn how to tie a bow. It doesn’t work without it. If the child is under pressure, it prefers to throw everything down. It is therefore necessary to create certain framework conditions in order to facilitate the learning process. But this is exactly where children and parents are made difficult by various factors:
- In the shoe shop
Anyone looking for lace-up shoes for children in a shoe shop can sometimes look in vain. Shoes with Velcro fasteners dominate the shelves, there are at most a few copies with pseudo shoelaces, which the child never has to tie, as there is a zipper on the side. Practically? Absolutely. Children can put their shoes on themselves at an early age – and it’s quick to do so. A great achievement in our fast-moving times. But at the latest when a child wants to wear proper sports shoes, the inability to tie a bow becomes a real problem – because these are all lace-up shoes. - In daycare, kindergarten and school
In view of the selection in shoe shops, many children are already trimmed for Velcro. How exotic then is a child with shoelaces? And how long it takes to put on the shoes! Often neither the other children nor the educators can wait and the child ends up sitting alone in the cloakroom. It always lags behind – and what little child can handle that well? These experiences often spoil the child’s ability to tie a bow for a long time, although it should be proud of itself. - Educators and teachers
Educators now often go a step further by demanding shoes with Velcro fasteners from parents. They’re understaffed, they say, and don’t have the time to help every child put their shoes on. They demand speed. How about support and encouragement instead? - Parents
Even parents don’t always set a good example. Of course, everyday life is often hectic, especially in the morning when the child has to go to daycare and the parents have to go to work. The minutes that it takes for a child to lace their shoes are missing. But aren’t there time windows in which it could work? It is important to use this.
So, given these complicating factors, how can children learn to tie a bow? On the one hand, the family must consciously ensure that there is a window of time within a day in which the child can practice in peace. Each time it will become faster and more routine. Another possible solution can be two pairs of shoes. A pair with Velcro for kindergarten and school when time is of the essence and a pair with laces for family activities or visiting friends when the child can be given enough time.
Tying shoelaces: This is how easy it is to do
Once the right framework conditions have been created, you can get started. It is best to sit next to your child so that you share the same perspective of the shoe. Choose a shoe with non-slip cotton laces, this will help your child hold the laces. The right time and the right mood are also important – it helps a lot if the child is balanced and rested. Now slowly demonstrate the movements to your child. Say a rhyme or tell a little story so your child can remember the movements more easily. Popular examples are:
- “The mouse builds a house, goes around the house and comes out in front”.
- “That’s a mountain, a dwarf jumps around it, slips into the hole and says: Catch me!”
Ultimately, however, there are no limits to your imagination, you can also come up with a nice new saying together with your child. Your child will internalize the movement sequences in just one day. Now it’s time to practice without pressure. The joy of learning should always be in the foreground and if it doesn’t work out, it’s not bad either. The loop will definitely be better next time.
Whether painting, clapping or tying shoelaces: well-developed motor skills are important for your child. And you can easily support this development with the right toys. Here you will find many great tips for motor skills toys.