Eight shapes on one page
Each row starts with a solid shape, a green dot where the pencil goes down and an arrow showing which way to go. The rest of the row is dotted. The shapes are circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval, diamond, star and heart.
Why shapes come before letters
The strokes inside shapes are the strokes inside letters. A circle drawn counter-clockwise from the top becomes O, a, d and g. Square corners become L, E and H, and triangle slants become A, V and W. Children who can trace a closed shape smoothly are ready for letters.
Tips for little hands
- Start with the circle and the square, which are the easiest.
- Let your child trace each shape with a finger before using a crayon.
- Chunky crayons or triangular pencils help with grip.
- The star and heart are the hardest. Praise a good try.
Change it up
Pick one shape to fill the whole page with practice rows, or choose Medium for smaller shapes and more of them. A Christmas or winter theme adds a festive border. After tracing, children can colour the shapes, or go on a shape hunt around the room: the clock is a circle, the door is a rectangle.