Pre Printing Skills Practise

Age Rating

All children develop as individuals. Parents and caregivers should use the age ratings below as a general guideline, taking the abilities, temperament and interests of their children into account.

Ages 4-5 Good exercise for children just starting to print their letters. Gives a feeling of success to kindergarten students nervous about printing.

Age 3 Straight, zig zag and curved lines are all appropriate to practice at Age 3. Encourage tracing from left to right.

Age 2 Focus mainly on straight lines. Encourage them to draw their line from left to right to mimic the process of printing from left to right.

Introduction

Activities that develop a child's control of the small muscles of the hands (fine motor skills) allow children to make the precise movements necessary for forming letters and improve hand/eye coordination.
If an aspect of a project is frustrating to the child, provide assistance - try to keep things fun. Sing songs, read stories or watch shows with a similar theme as the worksheet you choose to supplement the project - again focusing on extra activities that the child enjoys to help keep them motivated.
Take breaks, when necessary. Choose a time of day when you and the child are relaxed. Provide rewards (verbal encouragement, gold stars on "chore chart" checklists or awards for tasks that have been mastered) and change up the rewards when needed. Don't underestimate the "reward value" of one-on-one time with a loved grown up! Ten minutes of "homework time" with daddy after work can become a special ritual for both father and child (at least it did for our family *grin*).

Printable Worksheets

The "lines" worksheets come up with a different set of images each time you load them for unlimited worksheets. The Drawings Worksheets have a variety of options to choose from.
Children should trace the line (from left to right) to match the animal to its habitat.
Dynamic Lines Worksheets:

Trace Straight Lines Worksheets
Trace Zig Zag Lines Worksheets
Trace Curved Lines Worksheets

more Lines Worksheets (from easiest to most difficult):

Horizontal Lines
Vertical Lines
Diagonal Lines(Left to Right)
Diagonal Lines(Right to Left)
Diagonal Lines(Zig Zag)

Curves(U shape)
Curves( shape)
Circles
Connect the DotsEasy
Connect the DotsDifficult