Preschool - Writing

Preschool Hold the Pencil Worksheet

6 printable versions - Building Confidence - About 4 minutes each

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Hold the Pencil

Preschool - Writing - Building Confidence

Worksheet 1

  1. Warm up. Trace the line with a soft hand.

    Read aloud: Shake your hands out. Now pick up the pencil near the sharp end and trace over the dotted path.

    A handwriting line with 3 models of a line stroke to trace and space to write.Ruled writing lines. The first 3 cells show a line stroke as a dotted model with a dot where the pencil starts and a star where it finishes. The remaining space is blank to write in.

  2. Which one made this mark?

    Read aloud: Look at the dotted path on the line. Point to the thing that could have made a mark like that.

    A ruled writing line carrying a dotted path to trace, with a start mark, an end star, and blank space to write in.Ruled writing lines. The first 1 cell show a curve stroke as a dotted model with a dot where the pencil starts and a star where it finishes. The remaining space is blank to write in.

  3. Press softly. Trace the circle again.

    A handwriting line with 3 models of a circle stroke to trace and space to write.Ruled writing lines. The first 3 cells show a circle stroke as a dotted model with a dot where the pencil starts and a star where it finishes. The remaining space is blank to write in.

  4. Hold the page still. Trace the line slowly.

    A handwriting line with 3 models of a line stroke to trace and space to write.Ruled writing lines. The first 3 cells show a line stroke as a dotted model with a dot where the pencil starts and a star where it finishes. The remaining space is blank to write in.
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About this worksheet

Everything else in this strand rests on how the pencil is held, so this is the page to print first. A comfortable hold puts the pencil between the thumb and the first two fingers, close to the point, with the other hand flat on the paper to stop it sliding. There is no single correct grip at three or four years old, and forcing one usually makes a child grip harder. What matters is that the marks are deliberate, the hand stays loose, and nothing hurts. Watch for white knuckles, a fist wrapped around the pencil, a hand that keeps letting go, or paper that spins because nobody is holding it. Any of those makes a simple stroke feel impossible. Each short trace below asks for one thing at a time: start on the dot, press lightly, keep the page still. A stubby crayon or a golf pencil helps small fingers more than a full-length pencil does, and two minutes of relaxed marks beats ten minutes of tired ones.

What your child will learn

  • Hold a pencil between the thumb and two fingers, near the point
  • Make a mark that shows without tearing or denting the paper
  • Keep the page still with the helping hand while writing
  • Choose the tool that makes marks on paper

Worked example

Rest the pencil on the middle finger, hold it with the thumb and pointing finger about an inch above the tip, put the other hand flat on the paper, then trace from the dot to the star.

Common mistake

Squeezing harder when a stroke gets difficult, which tires the hand and makes the line less steady, not more.

Helpful hint

Loose fingers, helping hand on the paper, and a mark you can see without pressing hard.

Trace Lines and Curves

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with hold the pencil?
Squeezing harder when a stroke gets difficult, which tires the hand and makes the line less steady, not more.
How can I help my child with hold the pencil?
Loose fingers, helping hand on the paper, and a mark you can see without pressing hard.
Are these preschool writing worksheets free to print?
Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

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