Letter Formation Order: Which Letters to Teach First
By KidsTracing Team · Published October 5, 2026 · Updated October 8, 2026 · 8 min read
Quick answer: Teach letters in families that start with the same movement, not in alphabet order. A good order is: (1) straight-line letters such as l, i and t, (2) round letters that start with a counter-clockwise curve (c, o, a, d, g, q, e, s), (3) line-and-bump letters (b, h, m, n, p, r), (4) hook and tail letters (u, j, y, f) and (5) diagonal letters (v, w, x, z, k). Start with the letters in your child’s name, whatever family they belong to.
Most of us learned the alphabet from A to Z, but that is not the easiest order for writing. The letter a needs a curve and a line, while l needs only a straight line. When you teach letters in families that share a first movement, your child practices one motion at a time, and every new letter feels familiar.
There is no single “correct” order. Handwriting programs differ, and many schools have their own. If your child’s school teaches a particular order or letter style, follow that. What follows is a simple, practical order that works well at home.
Step 0: begin with your child’s name
Children care most about the letters in their own name, and that motivation is worth more than any order. Start with the first letter of the name, then add one more at a time. A name tracing generator sheet makes this easy. Teach the other letters in the families below when the name is going well.
Small (lowercase) letters in five families
| Family | Letters | How they are written |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Straight-line letters | l, i, t | A straight line down. i gets a dot and t gets a short cross. |
| 2. Round letters | c, o, a, d, g, q, e, s | Start with a curve that goes counter-clockwise (left, down and around). a, d, g and q add a line on the right. e starts with a line across, and s is a curvy snake. |
| 3. Line-and-bump letters | b, h, m, n, p, r | A straight line down, then back up and over in a bump. |
| 4. Hook and tail letters | u, j, y, f | Lines that curve into a hook. j and y have tails below the line, and f has a hook at the top. |
| 5. Diagonal letters | v, w, x, z, k | Slanted lines. These are the hardest, because slanted strokes come last in a child’s development. |
Why this order works
- Straight lines come first because a vertical line is the first stroke children can copy.
- Round letters are the biggest family, so once your child masters the counter-clockwise start, eight letters become easy.
- b and d end up far apart. d is in family 2 and b is in family 3, so children do not meet the two look-alike letters in the same week. Many children mix them up, and spacing them out helps. See the bat-and-ball tip on the letter B worksheet page.
- Diagonals come last, after the hand is steady.
Capital (uppercase) letters in four families
| Family | Letters |
|---|---|
| 1. Straight lines | L, T, I, H, E, F |
| 2. Diagonals | V, W, X, Z, A, Y, K, M, N |
| 3. Curves | C, O, Q, G, S, U, J, D |
| 4. Line and bump | B, P, R |
Capitals made of straight lines (L, T, I, H, E, F) are easy to start with. Many children write capitals before small letters because they are bigger and simpler, so there is no harm in teaching them first.
A simple pace: two or three letters a week
- Weeks 1 and 2: the letters in your child’s name.
- Weeks 3 and 4: family 1 (l, i, t) plus a few capitals from the straight-line group.
- Weeks 5 to 8: family 2, the round letters. Take two or three each week, such as c and o, then a and d, then g and q.
- Weeks 9 to 12: family 3, then family 4.
- After that: diagonals, and then mix everything.
Go slower if your child is tired or not interested, and move on when a letter feels easy, not when it looks perfect.
How to teach each letter
- Say the movement out loud. “Start at the top, go down.” Saying the words helps the hand remember.
- Trace with a finger on a printed letter with numbered strokes. Our letter formation worksheets show the start dot, the numbers and the direction arrows.
- Trace with a pencil on dotted letters.
- Write it alone on blank handwriting paper with three lines. Then color the best one.
Keep each session under ten minutes. See handwriting practice at home for a sample routine.
Jump to a letter
Letter A Letter B Letter C Letter D Letter E Letter F Letter G Letter H Letter I Letter J Letter K Letter L Letter M Letter N Letter O Letter P Letter Q Letter R Letter S Letter T Letter U Letter V Letter W Letter X Letter Y Letter Z
Frequently confused letters
- b and d: d starts with the circle and b starts with the line. Teach them in different weeks.
- p and q: q starts like a, with the circle first. p starts with the line.
- m and n, u and n: count the humps and notice the direction of the curve.
Before starting on letters, it helps to know that your child can copy a circle and a vertical line. Our guide to pre-writing shapes by age explains what comes first.
Free printables to go with this guide
Put this guide into practice with our free generators: letter formation worksheets, name tracing worksheets, blank handwriting paper, pre-writing worksheets.
Free workbooks to go with this guide
- ABC Tracing Book – Every letter A to Z with numbered stroke arrows, a picture to color and a word to trace.
Keep reading
- Handwriting Readiness Checklist: Is Your Child Ready to Write? – A simple handwriting readiness checklist for ages 3 to 6: ten signs your child is ready to start writing, and what to do if they are not there yet.
- Pre-Writing Shapes by Age: When Can Kids Draw Each Shape? – The pre-writing shapes in order, with the usual age children can copy each one: line, circle, cross, square, diagonals and triangle, and how to practice.
- Handwriting Practice at Home: How Long and How Often – Handwriting practice at home: how long and how often for ages 3 to 6, a 10-minute routine, setup tips and the signs that it is time to stop.
Frequently asked questions
Should I teach capital letters or small letters first?
Either works. Capitals are bigger and simpler, so many children enjoy them first. But most reading and writing at school uses small letters, so it is worth starting on them soon after.
Do I need to teach the alphabet in order?
No. Alphabet order is useful for singing and sorting, but it is not the best order for writing. Teach writing by letter family and teach the alphabet song separately.
What if my child's school teaches a different order?
Follow the school. Matching what children do in class matters more than any single order, and families like these are only a way to organize practice at home.
How many letters can a child learn in a week?
Two or three new letters a week is a comfortable pace for most 4- and 5-year-olds, with a little review of earlier letters each day.