Tracing letters is an easy way for children to learn to write each letter and it is an important precursor to freehand writing. Also, legible handwriting depends on being able to properly write each letter. The following letter tracing worksheets include step-by-step directions on how to properly write each letter. Additionally, arrows show your child the order in which he needs to draw each part of the letter.
When first introducing your child to the letters of the alphabet, we recommend introducing them in a specific order (beginning with the letters B, M and F!).
Why tracing letters is important
Before children are able to write letters on their own, tracing letters is a great way for them to learn the basic form of each letter. The above tracing letters worksheets are a great tool for practicing tracing letters since these worksheets show the proper formation of each letter with step-by-step visual instructions and allow plenty of opportunity for your child to practice tracing each letter and then attempt to write the letter freehand on the blank lines at the bottom of the page.
Extra tips for using the tracing letters worksheets
As when completing any tracing letters activity, the key is not simply tracing over each dashed line in the letter. The trick to completing a tracing letters worksheet is to ensure your child traces over each dashed line in the correct order. So, as you introduce your child to the letter tracing worksheet for each letter, be sure to highlight the correct formation of each letter by referring to the step-by-step depiction on the top row of the worksheet.
If your child struggles to trace the letter in the correct way, try explaining how many steps there are to writing the letter. Then, as your child traces a letter P, for example, call out the number of the step by staying “Step 1: draw the straight line down” and then wait for your child to do it. Then, call out “Step 2: lift up your pencil and put the tip back at the top of the line,” and wait for your child to do it. Then, call out “Step 3, draw a large half circle arc that stretches to the right and all the way down to the bottom of the line.”
While you are printing out tracing letters worksheets, consider focusing on one letter at a time but printing out two or three copies of the tracing letters worksheet for that letter. That way, your child will be able to practice tracing and writing that letter a few different times to really gain proficiency.