7/6/01
Question 118
Dear Preschool Teacher,
Do you know any poems or songs for tying shoes??
Hanging Shoe Laces
Dear Hanging Shoe Laces,
I have lots of resources for tying shoes!
Here we go:
Make an oaktag shoe with laces. Use red on the left side and green on the
right side. Use this poem:
Red on top, green below.
Cross them, point them toward your toe.
Red under green, right through the loop.
Isn't that a pretty loop?
Take thumb and pointer, pull them tight.
Good! You're doing it just right.
Take thumb and pointer on each hand.
Make two loops, isn't that grand?
Green loop on top, red loop below.
Take your time, do it so.
Are you ready? Push the green loop through.
Pull both loops, You tied your shoe!
(Betty Higginson- Instructor Feb. 1978)
You take one lace and make a loop.
Take the other lace and make another bunny ear.
Fold one under the other and voila! Tied shoes!
Shoe Tying Poem: Tying Shoes
(Sung to: Splish, Splash I was Taking a Bath)
Criss, cross and go under the bridge.
Then you got to pull it tight.
Make a loop but keep a long tail.
That is how you do it right!
Then you take the other string.
And you wrap it 'round the loop.
Pull it through the hole.
Now you got the scoop!
Criss cross and go under the bridge ( this is where you tie the loops together)
Now you made a double knot!
An Indian made a tipi
(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 his 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)
This story is great for a group activity where the children can help one and
another follow this 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 tipi and if they fail it is the Indian who needs more help. (
Not my idea, Original Author Unknown)
Build a tipi.
Come inside.
Close it tight so we can hide.
Over the mountain.
And around we go.
Here's my arrow.
And here's my bow!
Each line corresponds to one step of the tying process. (Because this may
be seen as stereotyping Indian peoples, you could use other words.
Such as build a tent. Anyone could be a bow and arrow hunter or target
practicing person!) Use a two color shoe string to keep sides one color
to cue child
as to which side they are working on.
My Shoelace Blues ( Note: if you sit behind the child while tying their shoes,
they can see how it is done from their view point.)
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 around....
And yank it into bows.
It's done!
This song fits well to the tune "Heartbreak Hotel".
Sad Rabbit
Original author unknown
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 the x and pulled again. From then on the bunny remembered how
to tie his ears into a bow, and he lived happily ever after.
Hope these help,
Jackie
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Hanging Shoe Laces,
Here is a poem:
I know how t tie my shoe.
I take the loop and poke it through.
It's very hard to make it stay,
Because my thumb gets in the way.
(Suit action to words)
Doris
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
