How to Tie Shoes with Orthotics – Stop Heel Slippage

Did you know that the way that you tie your kid’s shoelaces has a direct impact on determining the benefits that they will get from the shoes and the orthotics that they wear? Tying your kids’ shoes properly is the only way to make sure that your child gets the full support and stability that the shoes and orthotics have to offer. Let me show you how to tie shoes with orthotics.

When parents decide to invest in a pair of orthotics for their children, they are making a wise investment. However, if the shoes are not tied properly, children will not get the full benefits of the orthotics.

Orthotics usually take up a lot of extra space inside of the shoes, which can give children the impression that their feet are coming out of the shoes since the orthotics are raising your feet. This can create a great deal of discomfort, to the point that they might want to stop wearing them.

I have worked for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years, and my co-worker who has over 20 years of shoe fitting experience taught me the best way to tie shoes for children who wear orthotics. This shoe lacing technique will push your kids’ feet back and secure them against the back of the shoe, preventing heel movement and heel slipping.

How to Tie Shoes with Orthotics – Follow These 3 Simple Steps

There is one shoe tying method that I call “reverse the shoelaces technique” which works best for children or adults who wear any sort of shoe insert or orthotic inside their shoes.

This is the most effective way to tie shoes with orthotics, and I have tried it on several children’s shoes and I apply this method to my shoes as well. Below are the 3 steps to follow for the “reverse the shoelaces technique”:

1️⃣ Start with leaving the two eyelets (shoe holes) of the shoe open.

2️⃣ Go through the top hole first.

3️⃣ Go through the holes that you left open.

If your child is wearing a pair of sneakers with shoelaces —which I always recommend if the child has to wear an orthotic— then I recommend you try this shoe lacing technique since it will also make your child feel more comfortable and stable.

Most people are not aware of what the extra eyelets (shoe holes) at the top of the shoe are for, and they do not take advantage of the many benefits that using them can provide. The “reverse the laces” technique prevents heel slippage by making the shoe fit more securely around your kid’s ankle

Important Tip: Please explain the importance to your kids of undoing the shoelaces or the velcro strap of the shoes every time they take the shoes off. This will keep the shoes in the best shape possible, especially the heel counter which is the back part of the shoe that offers ankle support.

Properly Tying Your Kids’ Shoes Might Help Prevent Injuries!

When you tie your children’s shoelaces properly, you are just not preventing falls and injuries, you are also providing your children with more support and stability. This will allow your kids to run and play with confidence. Implement the “reverse the laces technique” has many benefits such as:

1️⃣ It makes the shoes feel tighter around the ankle and your child won’t feel like the feet are coming out of the shoes.

2️⃣ It prevents blisters by keeping the feet from moving when walking or running —reducing friction between your kid’s foot and the shoe.

3️⃣ It prevents injuries by providing your child with better support and stability.

Wearing a pair of shoes with shoelaces allows you to control the pressure that you put on your foot better than shoes that come with velcro straps or toggle laces. Lace up shoes offer more options and adjustments, which provides a customized fit.

The Best Shoelaces for Kids

These shoelaces are great because they are durable and your child won’t have to worry about having them become untied all the time.

Many shoe styles don’t come with shoelaces that are long enough for your child to be able to tie them properly and allow your child to double-knot them. The shoelaces need to be long enough, especially when your child is learning how to tie his/her shoes. However, we don’t want them to be too long that they will make your child step on them and fall.

To get the correct shoelace length for your child, you need to count how many eyelets (shoe holes) there are in your kids’ shoes. If you need assistance in figuring out the right shoelace length for your child’s shoes, take a look at the picture below to find out what shoe length your child needs:

Is Your Child Having a Hard Time Learning How to Tie His/Her Shoes?

Nowadays there are a lot of velcro shoe options, and I believe this is the main reason why children are learning how to tie their shoes at an older age. While girls start tying their shoes between the ages of 5 and 6, most boys start learning how to tie their shoes at age 7.

If you are having a hard time teaching your child how to tie his or her shoes, I wrote a post where I describe the simplest, yet most effective method for them to learn.

The Importance of Getting the Right Shoe!

If your child is wearing a pair of orthotics in a pair of non-supportive shoes, your child won’t get any of the benefits that the orthotics have to offer. The shoes that you provide for your child need to be substantial and supportive enough to hold the orthotic in place. Don’t invest in an orthotic assuming that it will solve all of your kid’s foot problems. If you invest in an orthotic, you must invest in a pair of good supportive shoes as well.

What Are the Best Shoes for Kids Who Wear Orthotics?

You can learn about the best shoes for kids who wear orthotics in a different resource I created.

Have you tried this shoe lacing technique before? Is there any other shoe lacing technique that you can recommend for a child who wears orthotics? Share your findings in the comment section below so other parents can benefit from your experiences!