How Line Art and Coloring Pages Build Early Writing Skills

Printable coloring pages for kids are handwriting practice in disguise. Tracing and coloring activity pages teach the hand to stay on a line, which is the skill letters require.

Lines before letters

A child who can follow a curve on a cat or a truck can follow the curve in the letter C. The picture gives them a reason to stay with the line.

Pressure and control

Coloring asks for even pressure. Tracing asks for a path. Together they are the warm-up for a pencil on lined paper.

Keep the page short

A character or animal page with a few large shapes is better than a tiny detailed drawing. Big shapes suit a preschool grip.

The How to Draw Animals posts show the same lines step by step, if your child would rather draw than color.