A first try at writing whole words
Before children can spell, they can trace, and tracing a word they care about feels like real writing. This page keeps it manageable: only four words, each with three letters, in large dotted strokes. Nobody has to fit tiny letters on small lines.
How the arrows help
The first copy of each word is solid with numbered arrows showing where each stroke starts and which way it goes. Sit beside your child for that first copy and trace it together with your finger. Good habits are easier to learn now than to fix later, particularly starting letters at the top.
Keep it short and playful
A four-year-old's hand tires quickly, so one or two words at a sitting is plenty. Try these before picking up a pencil:
- Trace the letters in a tray of salt or flour.
- Use a thick crayon or a stubby pencil, which is easier to grip.
- Say each letter's sound as your child makes it.
Make it about your family
Type your child's own Christmas words in the box, one on each line. Their name, a pet's name or "mom" and "dad" are the words children most want to write. Finished pages also make a sweet gift tag or a card to send to a grandparent.