Little hands at work
Tracing lines and pencil paths
Straight, curved, wavy and zigzag paths with room to move. Trace with a finger first, then try a drawing tool.
3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity
Dot marker printable · Free printable
Dot marker activities
One dab at a time can turn a familiar shape into a colourful picture. These pages leave a clear target for each mark, but a dab does not need to sit perfectly inside a circle. Choose one page, talk about its outline and let your child decide how to fill it.
Take a little peek6 items · Original illustrations
circle
square
triangle
rectangle
star
heart
Picture-play preview shown. The PDF contains the dot marker printable layout.
Inside the printable
First page shown. The download includes the complete activity and grown-up guidance.
What we’re exploring
Explore placing marks in chosen positions and following a simple visual pattern.
A little way to play
- An adult prints a page and checks that the marker or paint product is suitable. Protect the surface underneath.
- Show one gentle dab on a target. Put the lid safely aside and offer the tool to your child.
- Work around the shape or choose dots in any order. Name the shape as you go.
- Try a second colour, or stop after a few marks and return later. The page does not need to be finished.
Make it easier
Point to the dots while an adult adds marks, or colour the targets with a chunky crayon. Enlarge the print if the targets feel too small.
Try a little moreAlternate two colours around the outline. Stop and ask which colour could come next, then check the repeating pattern together.
For the grown-up
Use large tools appropriate to the child and keep small caps out of reach. Do not substitute tiny counters or stickers for children who put objects in their mouths.
Answers & naming help
There is no single colour answer. For an alternating two-colour pattern, repeat the same pair in order. The pictured shapes are circle, square, triangle, rectangle, star and heart.
circle · square · triangle · rectangle · star · heart
How do I print this?
Choose your vocabulary and paper size, then download the PDF. Print at actual size or 100%. Use the low-ink option for outline activities; colour-name cards still need their colour to teach the word. Cut-and-stack mini-books are available in the flashcard maker.
Keep the discoveries going.
More little hands at work ↗Shapes & colours
Colour flashcards
Ten bold colour cards for naming, sorting and finding familiar objects, with clear labels for grown-ups.
2–3 · 3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity
Shapes & colours
First shapes flashcards
Eight clear shape cards to show, name and print, with hidden labels and a simple answer guide for adults.
2–3 · 3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity