Pre-writing strokes teach fine motor skills for kids and help them understand how letters and numbers are formed.
In my last blog post, I spoke extensively about strengthening hand movements and building the muscles children need for writing. If you feel confident with that stage squeezing, pinching, pulling, and everyday fine motor activities then you have already laid an important foundation.
The next stage is how we teach children to write.
This is often where parents notice that something feels off. A child may recognize letters and numbers easily, but when it comes time to write them, frustration shows up. Shapes are inconsistent, numbers are reversed, and writing feels hard.
In many cases, the issue is not readiness.
It is the approach.
Pre-writing strokes teach fine motor skills for kids and help bridge the gap between hand strength and actual writing.
What Are Pre-Writing Strokes?
Pre-writing strokes are the basic movements that make up all writing. These include:
- Lines (up, down, across)
- Curves
- Circles
- Dashes
Every letter and number is built from these simple shapes. When children practice pre-writing strokes, they are not memorizing symbols. They are learning how writing is formed.
Research by McMaster and Roberts (2016) shows that early pre-writing skills are closely linked to handwriting fluency later on. Children who develop these movements early tend to write with more control and confidence.
Why Strokes Come Before Letters and Numbers
Letters and numbers are abstract symbols. They require children to remember shape, direction, and order all at once.
Strokes, on the other hand, are physical movements. Children can feel their hand move to make a line or a curve. This is why pre-writing strokes teach fine motor skills for kids more effectively than jumping straight into letter formation.
When strokes are skipped, children often rely on guessing. This is when parents notice:
- Numbers written backwards
- Uncertainty about where to start
- Different results every time the child writes
Zwicker and Hadwin (2009) describe handwriting as a motor learning task. Like any physical skill, it develops best when complex actions are broken down into simple, repeatable movements.
How Pre-Writing Strokes Develop Motor Memory
Motor memory is the body’s ability to remember movements without conscious effort. Writing becomes easier when the hand already knows what to do.
When children practice pre-writing strokes consistently:
- Their hands repeat the same movements
- Their brains store those patterns
- Writing feels less overwhelming
Hoy et al. (2011) highlight the importance of visual-motor integration in early writing. When children see a stroke and practice forming it, their eyes and hands learn to work together more smoothly.
This is another reason pre-writing strokes teach fine motor skills for kids in a way that supports long-term handwriting success.
Why Tracing Alone Is Not Enough
Tracing can look productive, but it should not be the foundation of writing instruction.
When children trace:
- The path is already decided
- Little planning is required
- They may not understand the movement
This is why many children can trace a number perfectly but struggle to write it independently.
Pre-writing strokes ask children to create the movement themselves. They learn where a line begins, how a curve changes direction, and how strokes come together to form letters and numbers.
McMaster and Roberts (2016) found that handwriting improves most when children actively plan and produce movements, not when they only trace.
Keeping Writing Practice Pressure-Free
When writing begins with strokes instead of symbols, practice feels calmer.
Children are no longer being asked to “get it right.” They are exploring movements their hands are still learning. This builds confidence and reduces frustration.
To keep practice pressure-free:
- Focus on movement, not neatness
- Use simple language like “line” and “curve”
- Keep sessions short
- Use large spaces before small ones
Remember, pre-writing strokes teach fine motor skills for kids at their own pace. There is no rush.
The Bigger Picture
Strong writing does not begin with letters or numbers.
It begins with movement.
When children learn pre-writing strokes first, writing becomes something they understand rather than guess. Fine motor control improves, confidence grows, and handwriting develops more naturally.
The progression matters:
Hand strength → Pre-writing strokes → Letters → Numbers
If writing feels hard for your child, it does not mean they are behind. It often means they need more time with the movements that make writing possible.
Slow down. Teach the strokes.
The writing will follow.
Free Template for writing
I created a free writing template you can use at home. It focuses on strokes for writing, practiced slowly and repeatedly in clear boxes to build control.
You can download the template here
Download here
I also recorded a short YouTube video showing how to use the template with your child.
You can watch it here
Watch here
This works for younger children and for older kids who need to revisit the basics.
Leave a Reply