Starting kindergarten is a big step. Teachers often say the most helpful things kids can bring are curiosity, independence and a little practice holding a pencil. A playful four-week tracing and coloring plan, ten minutes a day, can help with that last one. No pressure, no worksheets, just fun pages.
Before you start
- Gather supplies: a pencil, a thin marker, crayons and one or two Trace Then Color books.
- Pick a time: same time each day if possible.
- Keep it short: ten minutes, stop while it is fun.
- Make a chart: one box per day for a sticker.
Week 1: Big, friendly shapes
Goal: Enjoy tracing and coloring big, simple characters.
- Trace one character a day with simple, round shapes. Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Animals is ideal.
- Focus on slow tracing and looking ahead.
- Color freely.
- Name the character each day.
Week 2: Straight lines and corners
Goal: Practice straight lines, corners and shapes.
- Trace robots, which are made of rectangles, squares and circles. Trace Then Color: Cartoon Robots works great.
- Hunt for shapes before tracing. See finding shapes.
- Try coloring inside the edge first, then filling. See outline first, then fill.
Week 3: Letters join the fun
Goal: Connect tracing to letters.
- Trace and color letter characters. Trace Then Color: Alphabet Monsters pairs each letter with a monster.
- Start with the letters in your child’s name.
- Say the letter’s name and sound while coloring.
Week 4: Details and pride
Goal: Finish strong and celebrate.
- Trace characters with a few more details: eyes, buttons, spots.
- Add one detail of their own to each page: a hat, a background, a friend. See trace it, then add details.
- At the end of the week, put all the pages into a folder or binder: their "kindergarten portfolio."
Celebrate
Look through the portfolio together. Compare day one with day twenty-eight. Talk about how much their tracing improved. Some kids love bringing their portfolio to show their new teacher.
Other kindergarten-ready skills to practice
Alongside tracing, help your child practice:
- Opening lunch containers and zipping their coat
- Writing or tracing their name
- Following two-step directions
- Sitting for a short story
See coloring and kindergarten readiness.
Questions parents ask
My child resists the daily routine. What should I do?
Skip days without guilt, shorten sessions and let them choose pages. The plan is a guide, not a rule.
Should my child be able to write their name before kindergarten?
Many kids can, but not all, and teachers expect a range. Tracing their name is a great start.
Is four weeks enough?
It is a nice boost, not a requirement. Keep going if your child enjoys it.
About Kevin Coulston
Kevin Coulston is a cartoonist and member of the National Cartoonists Society who has written and illustrated more than 100 drawing, tracing and coloring books for kids, including the Trace Then Color series. Meet Kevin or browse all his books on FirstArtBooks.com.
