Learning how to tie shoes takes a lot of practice and is a great busy bag activity! We saw an expensive shoe tying board in a toy store and decided to make our own so my 5 year old could practice tying his shoes this summer.
How to Make a Shoe Tying Board:
Foam board (1 sheet makes 4 boards)
Foam or cardstock sheets
Glue, scissors, hole punch
Permanent marker
Screwdriver
Shoe laces (we found ours in the party section at Target)
This busy bag was super easy to make! We cut the large foam board into 4 pieces so that we had a rectangle that was lap sized. Then we traced a shoe on the foam paper sheet and drew a sneaker design on the top.
We hole punched spaces for the laces. We glued it to the middle of the foam board and used a screwdriver to put the holes through the foam board. Then we laced them up!
The one we saw at the store had two shoes on the board to lace, but we chose to only put one in the middle to make it easier to balance on a lap. This ways kids can practice anywhere–home, car, even at a restaurant!
I left these boards blank because I was giving them away at my Busy Bag Swap, but once the shoe tying board is finished the child can decorate and personalize it. You can even staple a plastic bag to the front with extra laces inside.
We are hosting our own online form of a Busy Bag Swap every month with our Busy Bag of the Month Series!
Each month Making Boys Men, No Twiddle Twaddle, The Educators’ Spin On It, The Pleasantest Thing and I are teaming up to bring you 5 fun busy bag ideas! Each blog will link to a new one so you can follow the links and see all of our busy bags!
You can also join in the fun! If you are a blogger who has a busy bag post leave it in the comments for us and we will pin it to our Busy Bags for the Kiddos! Pinterest board.
Now hop over to The Pleasantest Thing and check out her Make Your Own Sand Castle in a Bag! I can’t wait to make them for my kids!
Carolyn says
June 27, 2013 at 12:37 pmLove the glitter laces! My son was just asking me about tying shoelaces this morning. I will have to get busy making one of these!
Megan Sheakoski says
June 27, 2013 at 1:47 pmThe laces at Target were totally awesome!
Diane Hurst says
July 6, 2013 at 10:54 amMeagan, what did you glue to the middle of the foam board? Did you cut out the shoe that was drawn on a rectangle of foam and then glue it onto another foam rectangle? What a great idea to use a foam board for this. It’s easy to cut through with a craft knife (or punch through with a screwdriver) but also sturdy.
Megan Sheakoski says
July 6, 2013 at 10:41 pmDiane I glued foam paper onto the foam board, does that make sense? You know those foam sheets that are colored like construction paper? I got a a package at the dollar store but have also seen them at craft stores too.
Deb @ Living Montessori Now says
July 16, 2013 at 11:38 pmThis is fabulous, Megan! I love that it’s like the Montessori tying frame only more portable and interesting looking! I was happy to feature your post and photo in my Traveling with Kids – Montessori -Inspired Activities post today. 🙂
Megan Sheakoski says
July 17, 2013 at 10:49 amThanks Deb!!! I really loved your post! I found some new ideas I want to make for the kids!!!
Mariela says
February 14, 2014 at 12:13 pmThanks so much for posting this ; my son is very smart he knows how to read and write he just turned 3 but he’s having of lot of hard work on tidding his shoes ,He needs to improve his motor skills thanks again.
Megan Sheakoski says
February 15, 2014 at 8:20 pmYay! Glad you can use it!