The strokes inside every letter
Every printed letter is made of a few strokes: a line down, a line across, a slant, a curve. Children who can draw those strokes smoothly find letters much easier to learn. Tracing lines lets them practise the strokes on their own, before letters ask them to remember shapes as well.
A good order
- Straight lines, across and then up and down.
- Slanted lines and zigzags, for letters like v, w and z.
- Waves and bumps, the curves in letters like n, m and s.
- Loops, good for smooth, steady pencil control.
- Shapes, closing a line back where it started.
Next steps
When lines feel easy, move on to alphabet tracing with start dots and stroke arrows, and toname tracing for each child’s own name. Easy mazes practise the same pencil control.
In the MOE curriculum
- Motor skillsThe NEL Framework sets goals for fine motor control, eye–hand coordination and an appropriate pencil grip.
- Early writingIts literacy goals start with symbols and letter-like shapes before letters and words.
- Primary 1The EL Syllabus 2020 begins with writing readiness before print script.
Tracing lines is writing readiness in its simplest form. The NEL Framework treats the scribbles, shapes and letter-like marks of young children as an early stage of writing, so a line page counts as literacy as well as motor skills.
The same framework pairs fine motor goals with balance and coordination in gross motor play. Climbing, throwing and squeezing playdough all strengthen the hands and arms that later steer a pencil, so a short line page works well after active play.
Summarised in our own words from the MOE English Language Syllabus 2020 (Primary) and the Nurturing Early Learners Framework (2022).
