Pre-Writing Shapes by Age: When Can Kids Draw Each Shape?

Before children write letters, they learn to draw a small set of simple shapes. These pre-writing shapes are the strokes that every letter and number is built from. They appear in a fairly steady order, because each one asks a little more of the hand and eye than the one before.

This guide lists the shapes in the order most children master them, the age range that usually goes with each, the letters each one prepares, and easy ways to practice. If you want a quick check of your child’s overall readiness, try the handwriting readiness checklist too.

The pre-writing shapes in order

The ages are the usual ranges quoted by early childhood and therapy resources. Plenty of healthy children are a little earlier or later, so use them to see what comes next, not to judge.

Why this order?

A vertical line comes first because it does not cross the middle of the body. Horizontal lines need the hand to cross the midline, which takes a little more coordination. A circle needs a smooth, continuous curve. A cross needs two separate strokes that meet. A square asks for four corners with a change of direction each time. Diagonal lines and triangles are the hardest, because the hand has to move in two directions at once and judge an angle.

Before the shapes: scribbles

Drawing starts with scribbles. First come straight scribbles up and down or side to side, then round scribbles. Both are real pre-writing. A child who is still scribbling is not behind. Give them lots of room, chunky crayons and different surfaces.

How to teach a shape in four steps

1. Imitate. Draw the shape slowly while your child watches, saying what you are doing: “down, down, down.” Then let them copy you.
2. Trace. Give your child a path to follow. Pencil, finger and toy car all work. You can print shape tracing worksheets with every shape on this page.
3. Copy. Show a finished shape and ask your child to draw one next to it.
4. Draw from memory. Ask for a circle with nothing to look at. This is the real goal.

Move to the next step only when the current one feels easy. Moving back a step on a hard day is normal.

Where to start each shape

It helps to build good habits early, because letters are written with the same movements.

• Lines: draw vertical lines from the top down, and horizontal lines from left to right.
• Circles: start at the top and go counter-clockwise (left, down and around). The letters o, a, c, d, g and q all begin this way.
• Crosses: draw the vertical line first, then the horizontal line.
• Squares: start at the top left corner, go across, down, back across, and up.

Fun ways to practice each shape

• Big movements. Draw in the air, with a wet paintbrush on a fence, with chalk on the pavement or on a vertical surface such as an easel. Large arm movements come before small finger movements.
• Messy play. Draw in shaving foam, flour, sand, rice or paint inside a zip bag. Wipe it clean and try again.
• Toy traffic. Drive a car or train along a shape drawn in chalk or masking tape.
• Play dough. Roll long snakes and form them into circles, crosses and squares, then trace them with a finger.
• Join the pictures. Draw a line from one favorite picture to another. Our pre-writing worksheets have lines, curves, waves and loops for exactly this.

For more play-based ideas, see 15 pre-writing activities for preschoolers.

From shapes to letters

Once your child draws circles and lines with confidence, letters are only combinations of the same strokes. A small b is a line and a circle. A small t is a line and a short cross. Start with the letters in their name, then continue with our suggested letter formation order. Our letter formation worksheets number every stroke.

What if my child is behind these ages?

Skip ahead to the shape they can do and build slowly from there. Do not push the triangle because a sibling or friend can draw one. If your child is over 5 and does not copy a circle or a cross, or avoids drawing completely, mention it to your child’s teacher or doctor. An occupational therapist can help if there is a concern.

Sources

The order of the shapes follows the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde pre-writing shapes information sheet. The typical ages are the commonly quoted ranges from early childhood education resources such as this overview from Continued.

Free printables to go with this guide

Put this guide into practice with our free generators: shape tracing worksheets, pre-writing worksheets, preschool line tracing, letter formation worksheets.

Free workbooks to go with this guide

• Pen Control and Pre-Writing Book – Lines, curves, zigzags, loops and spirals, plus paths from a bee to a flower, to build pencil control.
• Shapes Tracing and Coloring Book – Ten shapes to trace, hunt for and color, plus tracing practice and matching games.
• Dot Marker Activity Book – Big letters, numbers, shapes and pictures filled with circles for dot markers, stickers or fingertips.

Keep reading

• Handwriting Readiness Checklist: Is Your Child Ready to Write? – A simple handwriting readiness checklist for ages 3 to 6: ten signs your child is ready to start writing, and what to do if they are not there yet.
• Pre-Writing Activities for Preschoolers: 15 Fun Ideas – Fifteen fun pre-writing activities for preschoolers that build the strokes, strength and control children need before they start writing letters and names.
• Letter Formation Order: Which Letters to Teach First – A simple letter formation order: group letters by how they are written and teach straight-line letters first. Capital and small letter groups, with a week plan.