Bow Frame

Doing up shoelaces is one of the most important things a child can learn. It can also be extremely frustrating for parents trying to teach children to do up their shoes. Many parents take the easy way out and buy their children slip-on shoes rather than teach children to do up their shoelaces.

Bow Frame

Bow Frame

Teaching children to do up their shoes using the Bow Frame

Children will learn how to tie their shoelaces with this applied exercise. The Bow Frame has a shoelace on one side and a shoe lace on the other. The child must cross these laces over each other and then tie a bow to join the two flaps of the Bow Frame together. Children enjoy the challenge of using a Bow Frame a lot. This activity is done slowly and precisely.

The child is encouraged to untie the laces of the frame one at a time in stages. Once the laces are untied, the child will be asked to open up the flaps of the bow frame. Once that is completed, the child will close the flaps and cross over each lace, one at a time, then make a bow at the end. This activity is good for hand - co-ordination, crossing the mid-line, and concentration. Most importantly, this is the very best way to teach children how to tie their shoes.

Looking for more Montessori activities?

Here is the full list of the Montessori tasks, including preliminary, elementary, applied exercises, and grace and courtesy. Just click on the activity you want to learn about to go there.

Montessori preliminary exercises

Montessori elementary exercises

Montessori Applied Exercises: Care of the Environment

Montessori Applied Exercises: Care of the Person

Montessori Grace and Courtesy

Control of Movement