Finger Painting & Tracing
A simple pre-writing activity that encourages children to follow lines and shapes using their fingers. Add paint to make it a wonderfully tactile activity while developing the movements and control needed for later writing.
Learn what you need to do for this activity
Learn what is needed in order to do this activity
Learn how you can adapt this activity and reuse
Learn the Benefits of this activity
What do you do:
Draw or print a simple dotted outline.
Encourage your child to follow the dots with their finger.
Add finger paint and trace along the shape.
Talk about the lines, curves and direction as they move.
What's Needed:
Paper
Simple dotted-line pictures or shapes
Washable finger paint
How to Adapt
Younger children: Use large, simple shapes and allow plenty of free finger painting.
Older children: Introduce letters, numbers and more detailed pictures.
Make it more open-ended: Let your child create their own marks and pictures after tracing.
Benefits of the Activity
Develops fine motor control
Supports pre-writing skills
Encourages sensory exploration
Develops hand-eye coordination
Supports visual tracking
Builds concentration and focus
Encourages mark-making
Develops finger isolation
