From letters to words
Once a child can form a few letters, writing a real word is thrilling, especially when it's "mom" or "dog". This handwriting page gives them six short words to trace on big lines. Each has only three letters, so a child can finish a word before their hand gets tired.
Is my child ready?
Handwriting grows out of the small muscles in the hand. Good signs include holding a crayon with fingers rather than a fist, drawing a circle, and copying a line. If those are still hard, start with our pre-writing lines and shapes pages. There's no rush at this age.
Short sessions work best
- Five minutes is plenty, and two words at a sitting is a good day.
- Sit at a table with feet supported, and use a short, thick pencil or crayon.
- Say each letter's stroke aloud as your child traces it.
- Praise the effort, and don't worry about wobbly lines.
Use your child's own words
Replace the list with whatever matters most to your child: a pet, a sibling, a favourite food. For a child's own name, the name tracing page fills a whole sheet. Personal words get more enthusiasm than any set list.