10 Tips for Teaching Cursive to Young Children

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Cursive is often reserved for third grade (if at all), but younger children can benefit from learning cursive as well. Not only is learning cursive fun, but it’s a valuable skill as well. But how do you actually teach cursive to a young child (ages 5-7)? Here are 10 tips for teaching cursive to young kids.

1. Model each letter

Use a smart-board, video, or other technique to explicitly model each letter. This seems like an obvious step in the process, but oftentimes children are sent to work independently with a workbook without that key first step. You can’t expect a 5-7 year old to know where to begin each letter or how to form the letter without lifting the pencil unless they have been shown directly. Model the letters as often as needed to help students build confidence with their cursive.

2. Focus on fine motor

While handwriting itself is a great way to practice fine motor skills, it is important that young learners have the hand and finger strength to tackle this task. You can encourage hand-strengthening exercises by having your students use playdough, color, threading beads, and completing puzzles. Time spent on hand and finger strength will be time well spent.

3. Lowercase first

Lowercase letters are easier to form in cursive than their capital counterparts. When working with young students, begin by teaching lowercase letters from easiest to most challenging. We recommend beginning with the letters e, l, i, t, a, c, m, n, o, u, and v before tackling letters with more curves and loops. Using a more simplified cursive font or worksheet series is a great way to start. More traditional letters can be introduced in subsequent years as students grow in their fine motor abilities.

4. Pencil grip

Bad habits are hard to break, and an improper pencil grip is definitely up there when it comes to bad habits. Just as in manuscript, a tripod grip (with the pencil held using the thumb, index, and middle fingers) is recommended for cursive writing.

5. Big before small and vertical before horizontal

Students should be given ample space to practice writing cursive letters. It’s important that students understand the way cursive flows, and by allowing a large space for this to happen, you are more likely to see success. Students should begin cursive writing using a vertical surface, such as writing with a finger in the air or on a vertical whiteboard/easel. Encourage students to stand up when they are first learning cursive, as it engages more of the body and allows the elbow to move freely.

6. Visual aids

Young cursive learners should not be expected to memorize the way each letter is formed. Always make sure that visual charts are provided. This can be done with individual handouts, an alphabet poster on the wall, or a cursive bulletin board.

7. Trace, trace, trace

Give students p-l-e-n-t-y of time to trace cursive letters before expecting them to independently produce cursive letters. Students have plenty of years ahead of them for producing letters on their own. When introducing the letters, it is crucial for students to feel comfortable and supported: tracing is one way to provide scaffolding.

8. Provide proper tools

Try to use smooth writing tools such as markers, pencils, and smooth-gliding pens (like gel pens). Avoid ballpoint pens. Keep in mind that lefties have their own challenges when writing in cursive, some techniques that work for the majority of your students (such as dry erase markers with page protectors) may not work for your lefties.

9. Be consistent

Even if it’s just five minutes per day, consistency will go a long way to helping your students build cursive confidence and skills. Cursive makes a great morning warm-up, a quiet time activity, or a center “choice.” Here is a great cursive writing packet for 1st and 2nd graders that you can use in just five minutes per day.

10. Make it fun! 

Students love to create “fancy” writing. When taught at an early age, most students are starting from the same point: no experience. Use that as an opportunity to keep things light, positive, and creative. Utilize  multi-sensory techniques (sand, shaving cream) to engage all students. Incorporate games, scavenger hunts, puzzles, and stories. Celebrate small victories.

5-7 year-olds will have short attention spans, so keep your lessons short, positive, and engaging. Encourage exploration over perfection. Your goal to to foster a positive attitude towards cursive writing.