Shoelaces before the next wear: check both shoes
By Erik Nilsen · Kroni3 min read
A damaged shoelace is easy to discover only when the household is about to leave. A quiet check of one pair makes it possible to report the problem earlier. A child can check that both shoes have their laces, the ends are usable and no part has slipped from its usual position.
Choose shoes the child actually wears now. Place them dry on a surface beside the bench. This task is a check rather than a requirement to remove every lace or learn a new knot that day.
Compare right and left shoes
Look at both together. Do they have the same lace type and the usual number of threaded holes for this pair? One shoe may deliberately use fewer holes, so ask before trying to make everything identical.
Find both ends of each lace. An end may have slipped beneath the tongue. Gently lift the tongue and look without pulling the whole lace out of the shoe. An end that cannot be found becomes something to report.
Inspect ends and visible wear
Look for a loose end tip, fraying fabric or a clearly damaged section. Do not repeatedly bend a loose tip to test it. The child can point to the area and ask for help.
An adult decides whether the lace needs replacing, adjusting or leaving in place. Do not use tape, glue or an improvised knot as a repair simply to mark the job complete. A known problem with a clear report is a useful result of the check.
Return shoes without trailing ends
After checking, arrange loose ends in the household's usual storage position, perhaps resting loosely over the shoe opening. Do not tighten a hard knot the child will need to undo the following morning.
If a new lace is needed, keep the old one with the shoe until an adult chooses the right type and length. This provides a real comparison rather than leaving one shoe without information about the missing part.
An example with one pair of trainers
Emil finds both ends in his left shoe. In the right shoe, one end sits beneath the tongue and the other is frayed. He retrieves the hidden end and shows his dad the worn one. His dad notes that the right lace needs replacement. Emil returns the pair together and has completed the check.
If the child does not want their lacing changed
Keep the usual arrangement unless an adult has agreed something else. The check identifies missing or damaged parts rather than deciding how every shoe should look. Individual lacing is not necessarily a mistake.
Finished means both shoes have been checked, any problems are shown or noted and the pair is back in its home. In Kroni, call the task “Check the laces on my trainers”. Replacing them can be a separate agreement rather than a surprise addition at the end of checking.
