But if your shoes are always coming untied, maybe we should revisit that shoe-tying lesson.

These are your bunny ears.

Then, you tie the ears together with another overhand knot.

Then you make two overhand knots with those big loops.

TheCheerio method, which is what I always start my kids with.

Pull the loops to tighten.

TheIan knotis a quick method that will impress your friends.

You make two loops, and instantly pull each through the other.

(Watch the video.)

No matterhowyou form the knot you are forming the same basic thing.

That thing is: two overhand knots, one right on top of the other.

To get your shoes to stay tied, you need the two knots to go opposite directions.

The second step in tying your shoesalsomakes an overhand knot.

If you use the big loops or bunny ears method, this is pretty obvious.

If not, well, just know that this is what ends up happening in the end.

Since youre stacking two overhand knots on top of each other, youre effectively making a square knot.

Or a granny knot.

Which one you get depends on how exactly you tied it.

You begin the knot by crossing the two strands: either right over left or left over right.

Either way is fine.

To review:

Right over left, then left over right: square knot, good.

Left over right, then right over left: still a square knot, still good.

Right over left, then right over left again: granny knot, prone to slipping.

Left over right, then left over right again: another granny knot!

This video shows the difference between a square knot and a granny knot.

Watch how the granny knot easily slips loose, while the square knot holds.

First you do an overhand knot, right over left; then you make the bunny ears.

If you tie the bunny ears left over right, youll get a secure square knot.

Theres another telltale sign of a granny knot, besides the untying: a granny knot is crooked.

This applies to any time you want to tie two overhand knots.

Securing a bandana around your head?

Right over left, then left over right.

Tying a trash bag closed?

Right over left, then left over right.

You get the idea.

You know, like you did when you were a kid and couldnt keep your shoes tied.

That trick still works today.