Pre-writing patterns

Before letters come the movements that letters are made from. Watch each pattern, trace it with a finger, then with a chunky pencil.

Hear it Watch the pattern being drawn. Then trace it with your finger, and then with a pencil.

Your device is set to reduce motion, so each pattern is drawn already. Use "One stroke at a time" to see the order.

Tips for grown-ups

• Big movements first: patterns in the air, in sand, in paint or with chalk outside, then on paper.
• Say the words as the pencil moves. The steady rhythm helps children remember the shape.
• Stop while it is still fun. Five calm minutes beats twenty tired ones.
• Moving on to letters is a good idea once a child can draw circles and straight lines with some control. There is no set age, and children vary a great deal.

Posture, grip and left-handed writers and the letters come next.