Handwriting with a purpose
Valentine's Day gives children a real reason to write, because they want to fill in cards for their friends. This page helps them get ready. It includes six short words, love, heart, red, kind, hug and friend, each with a solid model, dotted copies to trace and numbered arrows showing where each stroke begins.
From tracing to real cards
- First, trace each word slowly, following the arrows on the first copy.
- Next, write one word on the blank line without tracing.
- Then copy "friend" or "love" onto a real card for a classmate.
- Add a name or a drawing to finish it.
Good habits to watch
Check that your child starts letters from the top, because that makes writing faster later on. The letter "e" in love, heart, red and friend often gets drawn backwards at first, so give it a little extra attention.
Make your own list
Replace the words with your class's names to make a handy reference for writing valentines. A child who can trace every classmate's name will finish their cards with far less help, which is a big relief on the night before the party.