Developing pencil control

Activities to develop pencil control:

• simple dot-to-dots
• simple maze
• jigsaws
• using finger-paints to make or copy patterns
• drawing round other people's hands and body or simple stencils
• tracing activities
• picture completion - simple items to be filled in, start with a completed picture to copy

Start the activities on a large scale, for example use large pieces of paper stuck to the wall with patterns to copy on rather than A4 sheets. As the child's control and as the concept of the shape develops, progress onto smaller pieces of work.