The Shoe Tying Certificate

Can your child tie their shoelaces? That deserves a real certificate! Fill in the name, choose level A, B or C and print it straight away. Completely free, like the practice cards.

Passed? Share a photo of your champion with #shoetyingcertificate.

Free downloads: certificates and practice cards

Prefer to fill it in by hand? Download a blank certificate and the practice card that goes with it. Everything is A4 and works in color and in black and white.

Blank shoe tying certificate A Bunny Ears to fill in

Level A: Bunny Ears

From about age 5

Certificate A (PDF) Practice card A (PDF)

Blank shoe tying certificate B Butterfly Bow to fill in

Level B: Butterfly Bow

From about age 6

Certificate B (PDF) Practice card B (PDF)

Blank shoe tying certificate C Lace Boss to fill in

Level C: Lace Boss

From about age 7

Certificate C (PDF) Practice card C (PDF)

Lacing card: practise with two colors

With the lacing card, your child can practise at the table. Stick it onto cardboard, poke through the holes and lace up one white and one black lace. In the bow, you can see straight away which side goes where. Fix the spare lace behind the card, so the ends are always easy to hold.

Lacing card (PDF)

Oefensetje veters strikken • Wit en zwart

Shoe Tying Practice Set • White and Black

€ 14,95
White Nike laces Red colored tips Witte veters

Custom Laces • White Red

€ 7,95
  • 100 cm
  • 120 cm
  • 140 cm
  • 160 cm
  • 180 cm
Black Nike laces Red tips

Custom Laces • Black Red

€ 7,95

How the Shoe Tying Certificate works

There are three levels, like swimming badges. Each level has four parts. Can your child do all four without help? Then they have passed.

  1. Print the practice card and practise together, step by step. Every step has a picture, so children who cannot read yet can follow along too.
  2. Did it work? Then your child may color in a bow on the card.
  3. Test time! If your child can do a part without help, color in the star. Four stars means passed.
  4. Print the certificate. The tying judge (a teacher or parent) signs it.

A: Bunny Ears

From about age 5

  • I tie the first knot
  • I make two bunny ears
  • I push one ear through the hole
  • I pull my bow tight myself

B: Butterfly Bow

From about age 6

  • I make one loop
  • I wrap the other lace around it
  • I push a little loop through
  • I tie both my shoes

C: Lace Boss

From about age 7

  • I lace up my shoe myself
  • I make my laces the same length
  • I tie a double knot
  • I tie two shoes in one minute

Tips for practising

  • Practise with flat laces. They stay in place better and are easier to hold than round laces. For example our basic flat laces.
  • Use two colors. Lace up one white and one black lace, as on the lacing card. Then your child can see straight away which side goes where. The shoe tying practice set has both colors.
  • Start at the table. A shoe on the table is easier than a shoe on a foot.
  • Little and often. Five minutes a day works better than half an hour once.

More tips and both methods step by step are in our blog teach kids to tie shoelaces. Looking for new laces? Have a look at our laces for kids’ shoes.

For teachers

Print a certificate for the whole class in one go. In the certificate maker, open “Certificates for the whole class” and paste the list of names. Each child gets a sheet with their name on it. Choose “Save as PDF” to keep the set or email it.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can a child tie shoelaces?

Most children learn it between the ages of five and seven. Start with level A and only move on to B once A works without help.

Is the Shoe Tying Certificate free?

Yes. You can make, print and download all certificates and practice cards for free. You do not need to sign up for anything.

Is it an official certificate?

No, it is a certificate from Veter.nl to celebrate that your child has done it. But to your child it feels as real as a swimming badge.