Trace the Letter P
Preschool · 3–5Dashed guides and a practice row for the uppercase P and lowercase p. The long line down past the writing line first, then back up and round — starting with the line removes the choice of which side the bowl goes on. P is for penguin, pen and pizza — say the sound rather than the letter name as your child traces. Print on A4 or US Letter.
Stroke order for P
Lowercase p is the long line first — from the top of the short letters down past the writing line — then back up and round into the bowl on the right. Line, then bowl, in that order, for the same reason as b.
It is a descender, so the line should break through the bottom guideline. Children who keep it on the line produce something closer to an n with a bulge.
What to watch for
Whether the descender is there at all, and which side the bowl sits on. A bowl on the left makes it a q. Starting with the long line removes the choice, which is why the order matters more here than the shape does.
Frequently asked questions
- Why do b, d, p and q get confused?
- They are the same circle and line in four arrangements, and telling them apart requires treating left and right as meaningful for the first time. Expect confusion until around seven.
- How do I show the difference between p and b?
- By sound rather than shape. P has no voice and b does — a strip of paper held in front of the mouth jumps on penguin and barely moves on bear.