Pre-writing skills are the fundamental skills children need to develop before they are able to write. These skills contribute to the child’s ability to hold and use a pencil, and the ability to draw, write, copy, and color.
Working on these skills with our toddlers and preschoolers give them the foundations they need to succeed later on, and give them the opportunity to practice in a way that’s just right for their current development stage.
A pre-writing sensory tray, like the one I made with my little girl, is an excellent activity that can help children develop these vital skills in a fun and engaging way, and it’s super easy to set up.
The sensory tray provides a multi-sensory experience that is not only captivating but also beneficial for fine motor development.
We used couscous as a base for this activity to add a layer of tactile feedback that can enhance focus and encourage children to participate for longer periods.
The act of manipulating a paintbrush to follow pre-drawn shapes in the couscous also develops hand-eye coordination and control.
What are Pre-Writing Shapes?
Before children can form letters, they need to master certain shapes. These pre-writing shapes include:
- Vertical and horizontal lines
- Circle
- Cross (+)
- Square
- Right/left diagonal lines
- X shape
- Triangle
We have a PDF download which you can use with 12 cards with different pre-writing shapes for your child to copy, if you would like to download this at the end of the blog post.
As well as this list of pre writing shapes, it’s also helpful to work on copying different types of lines like wavy lines, wiggly lines, zig zag lines.. to help work on pencil control and to get used to making these shapes while mark making.
We also included a letter N card since that’s the first letter of my daughter’s name – so if your child recognises their first letter and is interested that’s also a nice way to make the activity feel personal and relevant to them.
Mastering these shapes helps in developing the motor control required for letter formation. By practicing these shapes, children also learn to plan and execute movements in a set space, which is a skill they will use when they begin to write on paper.
Typically, children begin to develop these pre-writing skills as young as 18 months and continue to refine them until they’re about 5 years old, just in time for kindergarten. However, every child is different, and some may develop these skills earlier or later than others.
Setting Up the Writing Tray Activity
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to set up a pre-writing sensory tray. This activity takes only about 5-10 minutes to set up, and once you’ve prepared it, if you store the cous sous or rice in a zip lock bag you can pull it out again and again and set it up very quickly and easily.
Materials Needed
- A tray or shallow container
- Couscous or any other grain-like substance (rice, sand or salt)
- Cardboard cutouts with pre-writing shapes drawn on them – Or use our PDF download.
- A paintbrush or finger
- Black paper to provide contrast
We used a plastic Ikea tray, which is super versatile and works for so many different activities. I think this specific one may be discontinued now, but if you see something similar just grab it – you will not regret having one of these to hand for all kinds of kids activities.,
Sensory Tray Preparation
Line the tray with black paper, as this will give more contrast when making the shapes allowing your child to better see the marks they have made.
Fill the tray with a layer of couscous about 1-2 inches deep.
Place the cardboard shapes around the tray for easy access. Print out the cards from our PDF file if you like (laminate for extra durability and longevity) or copy the shapes and draw them free hand onto cardboard which you’ve cut into squares. For this you can use any leftover cardboard packaging such as an Amazon box.
How to do use the Sensory Mark Making Tray Activity
Show your child how to hold the paintbrush and demonstrate tracing a shape in the couscous.
Invite your child to choose a shape and try to copy it in the couscous.
Encourage your child to shake the tray gently to “erase” their work and try again.
Offer support and encouragement. If they find it difficult, guide their hand with yours.
Make it a game to see if they can cover all the shapes during one play session.
Tips for Success
- Keep it fun! If your child is not enjoying the activity, take a break and come back to it another day.
- Offer variety. Change up the materials in the tray (sand, rice, beans) to keep the sensory experience fresh.
- Celebrate their attempts and successes, no matter how small. Every bit of practice is beneficial.
Download Pre-writing Shapes Cards PDF
As mentioned, we prepared a PDF file with 12 different shape cards that you can use for this activity. These are split across 2 x A4 pages. If you want them to print US letter size just adjust the printer settings.
These are the two pages of the free printable shape cards pack for the sensory prewriting tray activity…
Page 1
Horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, cross and x shapes
Page 2
Circle, square, triangle, wavy lines, wiggly lines and zig zag lines
Click below to download and print your shape cards / mark making cards.
Terms of use: free for personal use and free for classroom use
This activity is not just about learning to write—it’s about developing the confidence and interest in writing before formal education begins.
It’s a playful and effective way to prepare your child for the wonderful world of writing.
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