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Pre-writing

Loops Worksheet

Printable loops tracing practice. Continuous circular motion without stopping. Trace the dashed guide, then try the empty row underneath. Adjust the size to suit the hand using it, then print or save a PDF.

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Four steps

How to practise loops

  1. 1

    Say the cue

    Round and round without lifting the pencil.

  2. 2

    Trace the guide

    Start on the dot, follow the dashed line without lifting the pencil.

  3. 3

    Try the empty row

    The row underneath has no guide, so the movement is repeated unaided.

  4. 4

    Shrink it over time

    Reduce the row height as control improves.

What loops trains

Continuous circular motion without stopping.

Say this while they trace:Round and round without lifting the pencil.

Why it matters later

Cursive e and l, and the tails of g, y and j.

That connection is the reason to practise the movement on its own. When one of those letters later refuses to come out right, the problem is usually this movement rather than the letter, and a page of loops fixes it faster than another page of the letter.

Where it sits in the order

This is pattern 7 of 11 in the teaching order used across these sheets. If it proves difficult, step back to waves. Once it is comfortable, move on to circles.

Related printables

See all pre-writing patterns, or move on to alphabet tracing and number tracing when the movements are secure.

Answers

Frequently asked questions

Continuous circular motion without stopping.

Cursive e and l, and the tails of g, y and j.

"Round and round without lifting the pencil." Saying the movement out loud gives a child something to follow that a printed arrow cannot, and it builds the habit of starting in the right place.

Start with 30 mm rows or larger for a child under four, then reduce as control improves. Large movements come from the shoulder and elbow, which develop well before the fine finger control that small writing needs.

Go back to waves, which trains smooth direction changes with no corners. There is no benefit in pushing through a pattern the hand is not ready for.

Work through the whole progression

Eleven patterns, ordered from the easiest movement to the hardest, with a mixed sheet that samples all of them.