Trace the Spooky Path
Four dotted paths help Halloween friends find each other: a ghost floats to its candy, a bat flies to the moon, a kitten walks to a pumpkin and a candy bounces over the hills to another pumpkin. The lines get a little harder down the page, from straight to wavy, zigzag and bumpy.
How to use this worksheet
- Start at the picture on the left of the first row.
- Follow the dots with a crayon all the way to the picture on the right, without lifting if you can.
- Try every path, from the straight line at the top to the bumpy and wiggly ones further down.
- Color the pictures for the bonus.
Why tracing lines comes before letters
Almost every letter and number is made from a few simple strokes: straight lines, curves and diagonals. Tracing paths like these builds the small hand muscles and eye-hand coordination children need before they write. Moving from left to right also practices the direction we read and write in.
Who it is for
This is a gentle sheet for three to five year olds. Younger children can trace just the first one or two paths and come back to the rest another day. Children who find it easy can go over each path again in a different color, or draw their own spooky path for a grown-up to trace.
Tips for a steady line
Sit at a table with feet flat and the paper slightly tilted. Hold the paper still with the other hand. Going slowly is the goal, so praise careful work more than speed. If the line wobbles off the dots, that is fine: it is practice, not a test.
