Pre-writing Activities for Kids: Straight Lines Sensory Bin

Affiliate and Referral links are used below to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission on any purchases made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Over the next 6 weeks, we are going to be taking a look at some pre-writing activities for kids. Pre-writing activities for kids are a great way for them to be introduced into the world of writing at a young age with something that is age appropriate and also not “school” work.

Preschoolers were designed to explore the world around them through movement. I love giving my daughter sensory items to explore with. It is amazing how concentrated she becomes in that activity, often times playing with it independently for up to half an hour at a time.

This straight lines sensory bin was a huge hit with her.

Writing skills begin at an even earlier age than when your child first picks up a crayon. Pencil grasp development starts at just a few months old when your child begins to grasp for objects! Even before learning the alphabet, your child is building the foundations for writing and printing with good letter formations etc.

It all starts with those pre-writing activities, or pre-writing lines/strokes. Children learn these strokes in a developmental, age-appropriate sequence. It goes something like this:

• Vertical line
• Horizontal line
• Circle
• Cross shape (+)
• Right/Left Diagonal Line
• Square
• X shape
• Triangle

All of these shapes and lines are the building blocks for forming letters! I first realized that my daughter was interested in shapes when we got this book: PLAY-DOH: Making Shapes with Monkey .

Within a few times of reading this book, she was pointing to the circle shapes consistently when I would ask her to show me a circle. I immediately began finding circle shapes and other things from around the house to show her. I even showed her how to make circular motions on paper, which isn't age-appropriate for her yet, but I figured exposure could not hurt at this point.

So that is how this series was born. Over the next 6 weeks, we will be taking a look at some of the pre-writing lines I mentioned above and I will be sharing a hands-on activity you can set up for your kids in order for them to explore this line or shape. This is all leading up to my new book Basic Shapes for Beginners – A Hands-On Approach to Pre-writing Strokes for Preschoolers.

And since straight lines or vertical/horizontal lines are first in the developmental sequence, we are starting there.

Items Needed for Straight Lines Sensory Bin

• Medium size to large plastic bin or tub
• Wooden Dowel Sticks
• Unsharpened pencils
• Crayons
• Colored craft pipe cleaners
• Tri-colored spiral noodles (uncooked)
• Long spaghetti noodles (broken in half and uncooked)
• Fine motor tongs/chopsticks

I put a large beach towel on the floor and then just let E explore and play. She sat and played with this for at least half an hour! Of course, most of the contents ended up on the beach towel or the floor, but it was easy to pick up when she was done!

As she was playing I would talk to her about straight lines, showing her big ones, little ones, and then also point out colors. For older kids, you can also talk about how our letters always start from the top and what letters use lines. When they are done playing you could have them practice writing some letters with straight lines if that is age appropriate for them (ages 5+).

This is a great way to expose your child to pre-writing in a fun and different way! It's great for fine motor too if you include tongs or tweezers for them to pick up items with.

For more ideas like this one, check out the resources below.

Follow Heather | Growing Hands-On Kids's board Sensory Play Ideas on Pinterest.You May Also Like:

• Basics of Pre-Writing Skills for Kids 
• Fine Motor Developmental Milestones for Ages 0-6
• 12 Fun Ways to Practice Handwriting with Preschoolers
• 15 Hands-On Activities to Promote Pincer Grasp