Letter O Activities for Preschoolers
Three free printable worksheets for the letter O: tracing, letter hunting and word drawing, plus 3 activities and a note on how to form the letter. For children aged 3–6. No sign-up.
Free letter O worksheets
Each sheet prints on one side of A4. Use the PDF for printing and the image if you want to save or pin it.
1. Trace and write O
A solid letter to copy, then dashed guides, then blank handwriting rules. Capital O first, then lowercase o.
2. Find and color every O
A grid of mixed letters with O and o hidden through it. This builds recognition rather than handwriting, so it works before a child can write. Both cases appear. Plenty of children learn the capital and then do not recognize the lowercase.
3. Draw the O words
Three boxes, orange, owl, octopus, with the word to trace and room to draw it.
How to form the letter O
Capital O: One circle, starting at the top and going round to the left.
Lowercase o: The same, smaller.
Say the movement out loud while your child writes. Naming the strokes does more than showing them.
Watch for: O and the digit 0 are near-identical. Also easy to confuse with lowercase a once a stray line appears.
What sound does O make?
Short o as in octopus. Says its name in open.
3 letter O activities
1. O prints
Dip cups and bottle tops in paint and print rings.
You will need: Cups, paint.
2. Orange segments
Peel an orange and count the segments. Circles everywhere.
You will need: An orange.
3. Owl eyes
Two paper circles as eyes glued to a paper bag.
You will need: Paper, glue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sound does the letter O make?
Short o as in octopus. Says its name in open.
How do you write the letter O?
Capital O: One circle, starting at the top and going round to the left. Lowercase o: The same, smaller. Say the movement out loud while your child writes, because naming the strokes does more than showing them.
Why does my child get the letter O wrong?
O and the digit 0 are near-identical. Also easy to confuse with lowercase a once a stray line appears.
What age should a child learn the letter O?
Most children start recognizing letters between three and four, and start writing them closer to four or five. Recognition comes well before handwriting, so the find and color sheet is usually the right starting point.
More letter O
For more O words to use alongside these sheets: Animals That Start With the Letter O: Discover Unique Species, Christmas Words That Start With O: Unwrap the Joy!.
