4 free number tracing worksheets (1-20)
Free printable number tracing worksheets 1-20 for preschool and kindergarten. Trace dotted numbers 1-10 and 11-20, then count and colour the stars. Download the PDFs.
Number tracing is the bridge between recognising a number and being able to write it. These four worksheets take children from 1 to 20 in small steps: each row shows a big model number, four dotted numbers to trace on a writing line, and a box of stars to count and colour so the numeral is always tied to a quantity. Sheets one and two cover 1 to 10 for preschool; sheets three and four cover 11 to 20 for kindergarten and children who are ready for two-digit numbers.
What Students Will Practice
- Tracing the numerals 1 to 20 along dotted guidelines with correct stroke formation
- Recognising each number and matching it to a set of objects (count the stars, then colour them)
- Sitting numbers on a baseline so they are a consistent size and height
- Building pencil grip, hand strength and fine motor control through short, repeated strokes
- Understanding that two-digit numbers are written left to right, tens digit first
- Counting groups of up to 20 in a ten-frame layout, which prepares children for place value
These sheets support Common Core K.CC.A.3 (write numbers from 0 to 20 and represent a number of objects with a written numeral) and the pre-writing and fine motor goals of most preschool programmes.
Number tracing worksheet 16 to 20
Number tracing worksheet 16 to 20. Trace the dotted numbers, then count and colour the stars. Free printable PDF.
Number tracing worksheet 11 to 15
Number tracing worksheet 11 to 15. Trace the dotted numbers, then count and colour the stars. Free printable PDF.
Number tracing worksheet 6 to 10
Number tracing worksheet 6 to 10. Trace the dotted numbers, then count and colour the stars. Free printable PDF.
Number tracing worksheet 1 to 5
Number tracing worksheet 1 to 5. Trace the dotted numbers, then count and colour the stars. Free printable PDF.
How to Use These Worksheets
Print at 100% on A4 or US Letter. Each sheet is designed for one short session of 5 to 10 minutes.
- Start with the model number. Have your child point to the big coloured number, say its name, and trace it in the air with a finger before picking up the pencil. Saying the number while writing it strengthens the link between the symbol and the sound.
- Trace, then count. After the four dotted numbers, move to the star box. Counting the stars out loud and colouring them keeps the activity concrete: the child sees that “7” means seven things, not just a shape.
- Work in order. Use sheet one (1 to 5) until the strokes are smooth before moving to 6 to 10. Only introduce 11 to 20 once your child can write 1 to 10 from memory.
- Use the blank line. The faint line under each row is for independent practice. Ask your child to write the number two or three times without the dots once tracing feels easy.
- Repeat with different tools. Slip the page into a plastic sleeve and use a dry-erase marker so the same sheet can be reused, or trace with a finger in a tray of salt first for a multi-sensory warm-up.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Starting at the bottom: Most numerals start at the top. If a child begins 1, 4 or 7 from the baseline, place a small dot at the top as a starting point.
- Reversals: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 are often flipped. This is normal up to age six or seven; gently model the correct direction rather than correcting every attempt.
- Floating numbers: Numbers that drift above the baseline are a sign the child is not yet using the line as a guide. Point to the line and ask, “Where does the number sit?”
- Writing 11 to 20 backwards: Children sometimes write the ones digit first because they hear it first in words like “fourteen”. Say the number as “one ten and four” while tracing to reinforce the order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age are these number tracing worksheets for?
Sheets one and two (numbers 1 to 10) suit children aged 3 to 5 in preschool or pre-K. Sheets three and four (11 to 20) are aimed at kindergarten, usually ages 5 to 6, or younger children who already write 1 to 10 confidently.
Should my child trace or write the numbers freehand first?
Trace first. Dotted numbers give the hand a path to follow and build the motor memory of each stroke. Once the traced numbers look smooth, move to the blank line under each row for freehand practice.
How many numbers should we practise in one sitting?
One sheet (five numbers) is enough for a single session. Young children tire quickly when tracing, and five focused numbers beat twenty rushed ones. Revisit the same sheet on a different day before moving on.
Can I reuse the worksheets?
Yes. Put the printed sheet inside a clear plastic sleeve and use a dry-erase marker, or simply print another copy. The PDFs are free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.
Why do the sheets include stars to count?
Writing a numeral only matters if the child knows what it stands for. Counting and colouring the matching number of stars connects the symbol to a quantity, which is the skill Common Core K.CC.A.3 describes as representing a number of objects with a written numeral.
More Pre-Writing Practice
Children who are still building pencil control may find shapes easier than numbers to begin with. Try our circle tracing worksheets, square tracing worksheets and triangle tracing worksheets, or the line tracing worksheets. To keep working on counting, see the count and colour worksheets, missing number worksheets and our printable number flashcards.
