Write a letter with a yellow marker and then trace it in black
I learned this one from Edison’s preschool teacher. She writes the alphabet letter with a yellow marker on white paper. Then, he just traces it with another color. This is an especially good way for children to sign greeting cards.

Use wipe-off alphabet tracing placemats
This is one of my favorite ways for Edison to practice alphabet tracing because it also keeps him entertained while he is waiting for dinner. I just give him a pencil and he traces the letters until dinner is ready. I keep a wet wipe handy and he just wipes it off as I set down his plate. As with everything like this, I got mine for cheap at Amazon.com >>

Cover a chalk board with chalk and use your finger to write the letter
Hold a piece of chalk sideways and use it to coat a chalkboard. Then, use your finger to draw letters of the alphabet. Give your child the chalk and have them trace the letters. When they have finished, just use the chalk to scribble over it and do it again. From the WildEdisons.com post: Toddler Alphabet Tracing Activity >>

Use the Wipe Clean Letters Alphabet Tracing Book
This book is fantastic for practicing alphabet tracing. We have had it since he was a toddler, but he still uses it as a preschooler. The book has heavy cardboard pages where my son can trace the letters and then wipe them off. I keep the marker on a shelf where he can’t reach it, but happily bring it down every time he wants to use it (which is a lot). He will trace the letter on each page.

When he is finished, I give him a baby wipe to clean the pages. (In the past, I have had issues with wipe-off books getting stained if you leave marker on it for a long time. We would rather be safe than sorry. Plus, he enjoys the act of cleaning up the alphabet tracing pages.) The last I checked, you could still get this at a discount on Amazon.com >>

Download Free Handwriting Practice Worksheets
Edison came home from school with alphabet tracing worksheets one day. I happened to notice a website address printed on the bottom of the pages. I went to the site and found that I could print pre-made worksheets or make my own. Click here to check out the site >>

Trace letters on signs
Any sign with big letters that is within their reach presents a good alphabet tracing opportunity. Obviously, they would use their finger instead of a writing utensil, but the principle is the same. I like garage sale signs and sale signs at grocery stores.

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Target fine motor skills: Toddlers have the energy and curiosity to make trying new more advanced activities fun. These are the years when learn hand to eye coordination, so seek out activities that help them practice fine motor skills. Activities like stacking blocks, finger painting, or working a simple puzzle will help your child expand her fine motor skills. While this type of play doesn’t look like much, your toddler is developing the muscles and coordination that will later help her to hold a pencil and eventually write her own name.

Keep it simple: Activities that keep your toddler healthy and engaged don’t need to be complex or elaborate. Most toddlers will play with just about anything! Most toddlers explore enough on their own to provide them with the exercise they need to stay healthy. All they need is the opportunity, and a safe place to play. Encourage your toddler to explore by offering a safe environment and a selection of interesting objects to explore. If you baby-proofed when your child was born, it is probably time to take a fresh look at your home—toddlers can get into more trouble, and reach more areas than infants can!

Play with others: Children who don’t have others to play with are less likely to be active. Consider joining a play group, or visiting a park or playground. The change of scenery will give your toddler lots of time to explore, and you may make a few new friends as well!

Play with your toddler: A bonus to taking on the position as your toddler’s fitness guide is that you can reap the benefits as well. Toddler love to play tag and you can enjoy a quick game of tag with your toddler every day. You don’t have to be able to run fast to play and your toddler will love the individual time that he or she gets with you.

Practice gross motor skills: Another way to keep toddlers on the move is to have a ready assortment of balls of all sizes. Provide age appropriate basketball goals, plastic bats, and any other sports equipment you can find. They will spend hours throwing, kicking, and hitting things across the back yard. The movements that your toddler will make will keep him fit—and help him develop the gross motor skills he will need as a “big kid”.

Work together: Avoid the temptation to put your toddler on the back of the bicycle or in the stroller and take off for your own exercise routine. Find healthy activities for your toddler’s benefit and yours as well. It may take a little longer to make it around the block, but if you let your toddler lead the way, a simple trot around the neighborhood will do you both a world of good.

Adopt healthy attitudes and habits yourself, and bring your toddler along for the ride. The healthy habits you instill in her today will stick with her, and foster a lifelong love of fitness and exercise.

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A couple of months ago, I found a fantastic toddler wipe off maze book, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much my spirited toddler loved it! You can see his little brain working away as he figures out which way to go.

He goes through the book page by page, tracing the path of each maze and then moving on to the next one. When he has gone through every maze in the book, he just goes back through with a baby wipe and cleans the pages. His fine motor skills and toddler tracing improve every time he does it. What a fun tracing activity for toddlers!

Where to Find Wipe Off Toddler Maze Books

I have seen a lot of maze books in grocery stores, but have had a hard time finding the wipe off kind. I found our favorite one on Amazon.com. Check it out by clicking here. For all of their wipe-off maze books, click here.

Tips for Using and Cleaning Wipe Off Maze Books

• After your toddler is done with the book, have them wipe off each page. We use baby wipes. It is a heck of a lot easier to do it right away before it sets.
• Experiment with fat and thin dry erase markers. The fat ones are easier to hold, but the thin ones are easier to keep in the lines.
• Do it with your child. Everyone likes a cheerleader and this keeps your toddler from using the markers on things other than the book.

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