WorksheetsAbout this worksheet
Grey letters on ruled lines for a child to trace with a pencil, followed by an empty line to write the same letter alone. Choose English capital or small letters, numbers, the Hindi varnamala (swar and vyanjan) or the Punjabi alphabet. With My own text you can make a sheet of the child's own name, which children love to write first.
English letters sit on four lines, as in a four-line notebook. Hindi and Punjabi letters hang from the top line, as they do in a double-line notebook.
What this skill is
Tracing trains the hand to make the shape of a letter before the child has to remember that shape alone. It builds pencil control, the habit of starting a letter at the right point, and a feel for size: which letters are tall, which are short and which hang below the line. Good habits made here stay for the whole of school life.
A worked example
How one line of the sheet is meant to be used, taking the small letter b:
- Show the letter once yourself. Start at the top, come straight down, go back up halfway and make the round part to the right. Say it aloud as you write.
- The child traces the grey letters slowly, saying the sound of the letter each time.
- On the empty line the child writes the letter alone three or four times.
- Together, circle the best one. Praise that one and say what makes it good.
Tips for parents and teachers
- A thick triangular pencil or a crayon is easier for small hands than a thin pencil.
- Show where each letter starts. Most English letters start at the top.
- Five minutes a day is plenty. Stop before the child is tired; tired hands learn bad shapes.
- Wait a moment before printing so that the lettering can load. The preview shows what will print.
How to use this sheet at home and in class
- At home: a few letters a day, not the whole alphabet. Letters with straight lines (such as L, T, I, H) are easiest; letters with curves and slants come later.
- In class: choose "Tracing line and an empty line" so that every child goes from tracing to writing on the same page.
- Before paper, let very young children draw the letter large in the air, in sand or on a slate. Big movements come before small ones.
Mistakes to watch for
- Starting letters from the bottom. The letter may look right today, but joined writing becomes hard later.
- Holding the pencil in a fist, or pressing so hard that the hand tires. A short, thick pencil and a soft grip help.
- Reversing b and d, or p and q. It is common at this age; practise one of the pair on its own for some days before bringing in the other.
What to try next
- Writing paper worksheets: lined paper for writing without grey letters.
- Counting worksheets: first number work.
- Word search worksheets: spelling fun for class 1 onwards.
Ready settings by class
- Trace capital letters Nursery, LKG and UKG
- Trace numbers 0 to 9 Nursery, LKG and UKG
- Trace Hindi swar Nursery, LKG and UKG
- Trace small letters Class 1
Common questions
Can I make a tracing sheet of my child's name?
Yes. Choose "My own text", type the name in the box, and print. You can type in English, Hindi or Punjabi.