Trace the Standing Lines to Reach the Ice Cream! A Pre-Writing Worksheet
This worksheet builds pencil control in children ages 3-5 by having them trace vertical, 'standing' lines connecting children to their ice cream cones, a companion skill to horizontal line tracing that together forms the basis for writing many letters and numbers. Vertical strokes require a different hand motion than horizontal ones, so practicing both directions gives children a fuller foundation for handwriting readiness.
Part of the pack
Month 1: Learning & Development | Ages Up to 4Curriculum
How to use this worksheet
Point out each child figure and their matching ice cream cone at the top and bottom of the dotted line. Have your child trace the vertical dotted line from top to bottom with a pencil or crayon, encouraging slow, controlled strokes rather than quick scribbles. Work through each line one at a time, checking that the trace stays close to the dotted path, and let your child color the pictures once all the lines are traced.
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Crayons
Extension activities
- •Have the child draw their own ice cream cone and decorate it with different scoops and toppings.
- •Encourage the child to color the pictures, adding their own creative touches to the scene.
- •Practice drawing vertical lines freehand on blank paper, connecting two drawn dots from top to bottom.
- •Trace vertical lines with a finger in a tray of sand, rice, or shaving cream before moving to pencil and paper.
Tips for parents and teachers
Encourage proper pencil grip and provide positive reinforcement as your child completes the activity, since tracing top-to-bottom is a slightly less natural motion for many young children than side-to-side tracing. Watch whether your child starts each line from the top consistently, since starting position matters for future letter formation. Keep the mood light and celebratory, since repeated tracing practice like this pays off gradually rather than all at once.
Written by
Hemsweta Jain · Teacher Cheena
MBA and Early Childhood Educator, teaching since 2014 · Founder of RaisoActive, Mumbai
Every RaisoActive worksheet is designed and checked by the founder before publishing.
Published · Last reviewed
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Discover fun, research-backed activities to develop pencil grip in young children. Age-wise exercises, play ideas, and expert tips for parents and teachers.
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