Learning Knots

Learning to tie knots is a staple activity of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. But your kids need not be Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts in order to learn to tie knots. Knot-tying is a useful skill to learn. It comes in handy in outdoor activities or even in household chores like installing a clothesline between two poles. It may even help save someone's life, as knots are often used in search-and-rescue operations.

There are many online resouces to help your kids learn different knots. This website, for example, has easy-to-follow videos showing how different knots are tied. This article also has videos on how to tie ten of the most basic knots, as well as explanations of what each knot is used for.

In learning to tie knots, practice is important. Your kids can practice using ropes, cords, or even bathrobe sashes. (Note: young children should be supervised to prevent the danger of strangulation.) For some knots like the clove hitch, they will need a ruler or a stick or a rod to practice with as well.

The goal is to master tying the knots such that one can do them from memory and under time pressure.

Someone said, "It is better to know a knot and not need it, than to need a knot and not know it." Indeed, knot-tying is a useful life skill, and the time spent learning it is time well-spent.