Tracing Activity – Printable Pre-Writing Cards

A Tracing Activity You Can Print!

This pre writing activity couldn’t be more simple to set up! First and foremost, go grab our printable tracing cards!  This tracing activity set comes with 30 cards from simple lines to detailed patterns on real life objects.

Writing lines and curves can be tricky for young kids, so making the cards erasable and reusable is important! If a kiddo makes a mistake, they can easily erase and try again without getting discouraged. To make the cards erasable be sure to use a laminator and dry-erase markers.

Has your kiddo mastered the art of writing lines and curves? Don’t miss our printable books for uppercase and lowercase letter writing – it’s all about learning letter formation, tracing, and then writing letters independently. Plus, we also have traceable cards for letters and numbers too!

• Laminating pouches
• Dry erase markers

• Pre Writing Tracing Cards
• Laminator
• Laminating pouches
• Dry erase markers

Step 3

Use dry erase markers to trace over and over again.

Step 1

Laminate the tracing cards.

Step 2

Cut out the cards.

Step 3

Use dry erase markers to trace over and over again.

Educational Benefits for this Tracing Activity

Tracing activities have so many benefits for young kids!  It is a pre writing activity that strengthens many skills, setting the foundation for writing letters and numbers. Here are just a few benefits from doing this activity:

(1) Fine Motor Skills: Before a child can write, fine motor skills must be strengthened. Fine motor skills are the small muscles in the hands and fingers that are critical for writing. Read more about what are fine motor skills and why they are important? Tracing activities like this allow the fingers and hand muscles to get stronger and movements more smooth.

(2) Pencil Grip: This pre writing activity improves pencil grip through practice. Correct pencil grip involves the pencil being positioned between the thumb, index and middle fingers while the ring and pinky is bent into and resting, and the pencil rests on the hand between the thumb and the index finger. Correct grip is critical for transitioning to writing letters and numbers as an incorrect grip can make writing more difficult and cause young kids to get tired and discouraged.

(3) Hand Eye Coordination. Tracing activities help young kids in coordinating their hand motions to what the eyes see. 

(4) Crossing the Midline. What is crossing the midline? For writing, it is the act of moving your hand/arm across the middle of your body to work on the opposite side of your body. This is a skill we are not born with and develops in the early years. It also occurs, for example when one side of your body crossing to the other side of your body to tie a shoe.