Letter S coloring page
A big outlined capital S winds down the page, with four dotted S's underneath to trace on a dotted baseline. The double curve is the trickiest shape in the alphabet for small hands, so it suits children from about four to six. Trace it with a finger a few times before using a crayon. Sun, snake and star begin with S. Color the big S like a striped snake. Prints on A4 or US Letter.
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Small letter s
Free for personal and classroom use. Not for resale.
How to use the letter S page
The capital S and the small s are the same snake shape in two sizes. That makes this page a good one for practice, because the same movement works for both. Color the two letters first, then trace each one with a finger slowly, three or four times, before picking up a crayon.
Start near the top on the right, curve up and over to the left, come back across to the right and curve round the bottom. The sound is a long hiss: sss, as in sock, sand and seal. For a sensory try, pour a thin layer of salt, sand or sugar into a tray and let your child draw both letters with a finger. Shake the tray to erase and go again.
Questions
Why is S so hard for young children?
S changes direction twice in one stroke, which takes good hand control. Many children find it easier from about four or five. Tracing slowly, with a finger first, makes a real difference.
How can I help with the start of the S?
Put a small colored dot where the S starts, near the top right. Children then know exactly where to put the crayon. Remove the dot once they get used to it.
Can we practice S without printing a new page?
Yes. The salt or sand tray works for any letter, and so does drawing with a wet finger on a window or with chalk outside. Come back to the printed page once the movement feels easy.