Age 3+
Print Style Make the alphabet letter shapes
HANDWRITING PRACTICE with Letterland There are 52 basic letter shapes in written English (aA-zZ aA-zZ) and they are all abstract shapes. In Letterland these abstract shapes are bonded with child-friendly concrete images that act as memory cues. When your child sees the Letterland characters linked to the letter shapes, the risk of confusing all these abstract shapes is greatly reduced. It’s important for your child to learn the right ‘movement pathway’ for each letter. Correct formation ensures that the letters begin and end in the right place. This is especially important when your child moves on to the next stages of joining up handwriting. If young children are allowed to form letters ‘their own way’ these habits quickly become established and can be very difficult to correct later.
Finger Tracing: When little fingers get the habit of forming each letter the right way handwriting becomes much easier. Let your child finger trace several times over each large hollow letter before picking up a pencil to write the strokes.
The Shape / Sound Link: Practising the letter shapes can also be an ideal time for reviewing the letter’s sound. Encourage your child to softly chant the letter’s sound as they create the shape.
Alliterative Objects: By naming and colouring the objects in each scene, your child will strengthen their awareness of the sound at the beginning of words.
Capital / Lower Case Pairs: Ask your child to look carefully at the difference in size as well as at the differences in shape in each capital / lower case letter pair. The need to make this judgement for themselves prepares them for independent writing without lines. It is also important to:
choose a time when your child is not tired avoid background distractions, such as TV that can affect concentration keep it short. Ten minutes or so will probably be enough, especially at first give plenty of praise and encouragement
Correct Handwriting Positions Left-hander
Right-hander
Finger tips 4cm from tip of pencil
Finger tips 2cm from tip of pencil
e
e sid
edg
er ap 30°
P Table edge
Elbows off the table
er Pap
side
e
edg
20°
Table edge Chair slightly tilted
aa aa a a a a a a a a
2
Annie Apple
How many ants? Search for ants on these two pages, then trace over the correct number.
Trace over the correct number.
3
4
Bouncy Ben
How many balls? Search for balls on these two pages, then trace over the correct number. 5
6
Annie CleverApple Cat
How many How manycakes? ? Trace over over the the correct correct number. number. Trace
7
Handwriting Songs Annie Apple
Harry Hat Man
At the leaf begin. Go round the apple this way. Then add a line down so Annie won’t roll away.
Hurry from the Hat Man’s head down to his heel on the ground. Go up and bend his knee over, so he’ll hop while he makes his sound.
Bouncy Ben
Impy Ink
Brush down Ben’s big, long ears. Go up and round his head so his face appears!
Inside the ink bottle draw a line. Add an inky dot. That’s fine!
Clever Cat Curve round Clever Cat’s face to begin. Then gently tickle her under her chin.
Jumping Jim Just draw down Jim, bending his knees. Then add the one ball which everyone sees.
Dippy Duck Draw Dippy Duck’s back. Go round her tum. Go up to her head. Then down you come!
Kicking King Kicking King’s body is a straight stick. Add his arm, then his leg, so he can kick!
Eddy Elephant Ed has a headband. Draw it and then stroke round his head and his trunk to the end.
Lucy Lamp Light Lucy looks like one long line. Go straight from head to foot and she’s ready to shine!
Firefighter Fred First draw Fred’s helmet. Then go down a way. Give him some arms and he’ll put out the blaze.
Munching Mike Make Munching Mike’s back leg first, then his second leg, and third, so he can go munch-munching in a word.
Golden Girl Go round Golden Girl’s head. Go down her golden hair. Then curve to make her swing, so she can sit there. 54