Tracing is an activity that occurs in many areas of the Montessori classroom. As children enjoy and practice this skill, their fine motor movements are strengthened and refined. It also gives children the opportunity to practice proper pencil grip with repetition. Through tracing, they can focus on grip alone, without additional thought dedicated to letter formation or creating the “perfect” picture. They develop a steady hand while gaining strength and control as the pencil follows the lines.

In addition to their fine motor skills, tracing helps students develop other skills, such as:

Focus and concentration – while working on the tracing, students are able to focus on just one skill. They can concentrate on making their lines smooth and fluid, while enjoy the “flow” of the work.

Eye and hand coordination – many activities help to develop this skill and tracing is one of them. The connection between the eye and the hand assists with forming letters and drawing pictures in future work.

Fluid movement of the pencil – being able to move the pencil smoothly will benefit their later writing development and help with both cursive and print.

Satisfaction of completion with their work – when students complete their work, they are filled with a strong sense of accomplishment that is internal and cannot be impacted by outside factors. This positive reinforcement helps develop independent, self-reliant learners.