Pre-writing skills do not have to be developed by sitting at a table and doing writing tasks.
Movement is a great way to teach children about shape, direction and other concepts associated with pre-writing. Try to keep the movements large and talk to the child about what they are doing in order to draw their attention to the movement, for example a square goes down, across, up, across.
Why do some children find this difficult?
Some reasons children may be struggling with pre-writing skills are:
- weak strength in their tummy and back which can result in difficulty sitting well and being able to maintain this when using their hands to write
- weak shoulder or arm muscles
- weak hands and grasp
- visual perception – correctly interpreting the things we see and perceive
- concentration and attention
- interest in the task.
Checklist for pre-writing developmental skills
Children learn to copy the shape first, that is they watch an adult draw the shape first and then do it themselves.
| Developmental stage | Age norms (year and months) |
|---|---|
| Draws a vertical line | 2.1 |
| Draws a horizontal line | 3.0 |
| Draws a circle | 3.0 |
| Draws a cross | 4.1 |
| Draws a square | 4.6 |
| Draws a left to right diagonal | 4.7 |
| Draws a X | 4.11 |
| Draws a triangle | 5.3 |
| Draws a diamond | 8.1 |
| Developmental stage | Age norms (year and months) |
|---|---|
| Draws a vertical line | 2.1 |
| Draws a horizontal line | 3.0 |
| Draws a circle | 3.0 |
| Draws a cross | 4.1 |
| Draws a square | 4.6 |
| Draws a left to right diagonal | 4.7 |
| Draws a X | 4.11 |
| Draws a triangle | 5.3 |
| Draws a diamond | 8.1 |
Activities that help develop pre-writing skills
- Start the activities on a large scale. For example use large pieces of paper stuck to the wall with patterns to copy on rather than A4 sheets. As the child’s control and concept of the shape develops, progress onto smaller pieces of work.
- Copying and drawing patterns in a sand tray, on a chalkboard, in flour or in shaving cream on a tabletop. You make a simple pattern and then encourage the child to copy it.
- Use finger-paints to make or copy patterns.
- Drawing round other people’s hands, feet, body or simple stencils.
- Picture completion. Simple items to be filled in. Start with a completed picture to copy.
- Simple Dot-to-Dots and mazes
- Feeling wooden or plastic shapes and letters with eyes open and then trying to guess what they are with eyes closed.
- Tracing the shape of letters and shapes made of string or sandpaper glued onto card.
- Drawing shapes and letters in the air, using a whole arm movement.
- Making shapes and letters out of play dough or pipe cleaners.
Last reviewed February 2026