Letter S Activities for Preschoolers
Three free printable worksheets for the letter S: 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 S 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 S
A solid letter to copy, then dashed guides, then blank handwriting rules. Capital S first, then lowercase s.
2. Find and color every S
A grid of mixed letters with S and s 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 S words
Three boxes, sun, star, snake, with the word to trace and room to draw it.
How to form the letter S
Capital S: One snake curve, round the top to the left, then round the bottom to the right.
Lowercase s: The same, smaller.
Say the movement out loud while your child writes. Naming the strokes does more than showing them.
Watch for: S is the most commonly reversed letter after b and d, because the direction of the first curve is easy to flip. Start at the top and go left every time.
What sound does S make?
A hiss, as in sun. Sounds like z in dogs and is.
3 letter S activities
1. Snake S
Roll a snake from dough and curve it into an S.
You will need: Play dough.
2. Sun rays
Paint a yellow circle and add rays, counting as you go.
You will need: Paint.
3. Sssort it
Sort objects by whether they start with s.
You will need: Household items.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sound does the letter S make?
A hiss, as in sun. Sounds like z in dogs and is.
How do you write the letter S?
Capital S: One snake curve, round the top to the left, then round the bottom to the right. Lowercase s: 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 S wrong?
S is the most commonly reversed letter after b and d, because the direction of the first curve is easy to flip. Start at the top and go left every time.
What age should a child learn the letter S?
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 S
For more S words to use alongside these sheets: Animals That Start With the Letter S, 30 Christmas Words That Start With S: Sparkle Your Holiday!.
