Trace Evidence

Age: 4 years and up

Get Ready: Choose a simple black outline picture from a coloring book or clip art website. Find tracing paper (regular white tissue paper will work too but tears easily), plain white card stock, two strong paper clips, a pencil and colored pencils. Reduce the size of the picture and glue on a 5" x 5" white card. Laminate or cover with clear contact paper for durability.

Get Set: The first time you will want to show your child how to place the tracing paper on top of the picture card and hold it in place with the clips.

Sit Back and Watch Your Child Go: Using the pencil, show your child how trace over all of the black lines of the picture. When he’s done, show him how to pick up the tracing paper and check his picture before the clips are removed to make sure that he’s traced all of the lines. When he’s done he may want to color the picture using crayons or colored pencils.

As your child grows: She may want to try tracing her name or tracing larger or more intricate pictures.

Your child will love: Learning the new word “tracing.” Learning about tracing paper, using the clips, tracing over the lines, looking for missing lines on the tracing paper, coloring her picture, watching you put her picture on a special spot of honor on the ‘fridge.

You will love: Seeing your child develop independence, concentration, coordination, self-esteem, and the muscles he’ll need for writing.