5 Gross Motor Warm-Ups for Cursive Handwriting

ByHeather Greutman Hours

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Gross motor warm-ups are a vital foundation for successful handwriting when children are learning to write. Not only do they help build up the muscles that children need for handwriting, but they also help support motor planning and can even build confidence when they do pick up a pencil to write.

Let's take a look at some specific gross motor warm-up activities before learning how to write cursive.

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Why Teach Cursive Handwriting?

Cursive is making a comeback in the school environment, and I, for one, am happy about it! My children had cursive handwriting practice built into their school day this past year. My son, in 3rd grade, learned all the letters, plus how to write his name. My daughter, in 6th grade, copied whole sentences and passages in cursive.

Research has shown that learning cursive can be beneficial by enhancing brain development, particularly language retention, memory, and fine motor skills. (The Resurgence of Cursive Handwriting & Why Cursive Handwriting is Good for Your Brain).

Cursive can be a great option, especially for children who may be struggling with print. Print handwriting requires them to pick up the pencil multiple times to form a letter. This requires a lot of muscle memory practice and can be frustrating for some students. Cursive letters are one continuous flow and can be easier for some children who struggle with print letter formations. (Why Cursive Writing Is Still Essential for Student Success).

Some experts believe that cursive handwriting can be a good option for children who struggle with dyslexia or dysgraphia. (The Writing Advantage: Cursive vs. Print)

Cursive Handwriting Warm-Up Activities

Let's look at some specific cursive handwriting warm-up activity ideas.

Sky Writing with Giant Arm Movements

Illustrated card showing a young boy reaching upward with one arm as if writing in the air. A large cursive letter "l" is shown beside him. The top text reads “(1) SKY WRITING with Giant Arm Movements,” and the bottom says, “Trace large cursive letters in the air.” The Growing Hands-On Kids logo appears in the lower left corner. PIN IT

Have children trace large cursive letters in the air using their whole arm. Use both hands at once (mirrored) or one at a time. Say the letter names out loud as they draw them.

This builds shoulder and arm strength while reinforcing letter shapes. Air writing also supports motor planning and visual memory.

Fun twist: Use scarves, ribbon wands, or streamers for extra fun.

Wall Tracing with Cursive Patterns

Illustrated card showing a young girl tracing cursive patterns like loops and waves on a large sheet of paper taped to the wall. The top text reads “(2) WALL TRACING with Cursive Patterns,” and the bottom text says, “Trace loops, waves, or curves on paper taped to the wall.” The Growing Hands-On Kids logo appears in the lower left corner. PIN IT

Tape large paper to the wall and draw loops, waves, or connected curves (just like cursive warm-up lines). Have children trace over them using markers or their fingers.

Vertical surfaces naturally engage the core, shoulders, and wrist extension, perfect prep for seated table work.

Add-On: Turn it into a “path tracing” game with little bugs or animals that need to “crawl” along the loops. Using cars and having a race can also be an option.

Cursive Movement Paths (Floor Taping)

Illustrated card showing a young boy walking along a large cursive path made from black floor tape. The top text reads “(3) Cursive Movement Paths (Floor Taping),” and the bottom says, “Walk along large cursive paths made of floor tape.” The Growing Hands-On Kids logo is in the lower left corner. PIN IT

Use painter’s tape to create large cursive patterns or letters on the floor. Children walk, tiptoe, or scooter along the lines while saying the letter sound.

This activity boosts spatial awareness and coordination, both of which are important for forming and connecting cursive letters smoothly.

Challenge: Add speed or direction games (“Now walk the path backwards!”).

Rainbow Arm Tracing

Illustrated card showing a young girl tracing a large cursive letter “l” multiple times in rainbow colors (blue, green, red, yellow). The top text reads “(4) RAINBOW ARM TRACING,” and the bottom says, “Trace over large cursive letters several times in different colors.” The Growing Hands-On Kids logo appears in the lower left corner. PIN IT

Have children trace over a large wall letter multiple times with different colored markers or chalk, creating a “rainbow” effect.

Repetition helps build the muscle memory needed for cursive. The color changes add visual tracking and a little extra fun.

Try It: Start with simple lowercase letters like “l,” “e,” or “c.”

Shoulder Rolls + Arm Wiggles (Quick Warm-Up Routine)

Illustrated card showing a young girl with blonde hair performing shoulder rolls with her eyes closed and arms bent, moving in a circular motion indicated by blue arrows. The top text reads “(5) SHOULDER ROLLS + ARM WIGGLES,” and the bottom says, “Quick Warm-Up Routine.” The Growing Hands-On Kids logo appears in the lower left corner. PIN IT

These 4 ideas are a great way to warm up the muscles for writing. It does not have to be specific to cursive, all handwriting practice can benefit from gross motor warm-ups.

  • 10 big shoulder rolls
  • 10 arm circles forward and backward
  • 10 wrist flicks or “jellyfish hands”
  • Shake out both arms like wet noodles

Fun twist: Put on music and turn it into a silly warm-up dance.

Illustrated card showing a young girl with blonde hair in a ponytail performing shoulder rolls, with curved blue arrows indicating the movement. She is smiling with eyes closed and wearing an orange shirt. The top text reads “(5) SHOULDER ROLLS,” and the bottom says, “10 big shoulder rolls.” The Growing Hands-On Kids logo is in the lower left corner. PIN IT
Illustrated card showing a young boy with light brown hair performing wrist flicks, also called “jellyfish hands,” with curved blue arrows indicating the motion. He is smiling with eyes closed and wearing a yellow shirt. The top text reads “(5) SHOULDER ROLLS + ARM WIGGLES,” and the bottom says, “10 wrist flicks or ‘jellyfish hands.’” The Growing Hands-On Kids logo appears in the lower left corner. PIN IT
Illustrated card showing a young girl with dark skin and brown hair in a puff hairstyle, performing arm circles with blue curved arrows indicating the motion. She is smiling with her eyes closed and wearing a yellow shirt. The top text reads “(5) SHOULDER ROLLS + ARM WIGGLES,” and the bottom says, “10 arm circles forward and backward.” The Growing Hands-On Kids logo appears in the lower left corner. PIN IT
Illustrated card showing a young girl with dark brown skin and long dark hair shaking out both arms with wavy motion lines, resembling “wet noodles.” She is smiling with eyes closed and wearing a yellow shirt. The top text reads “(5) SHOULDER ROLLS + ARM WIGGLES,” and the bottom says, “Shake out both arms like wet noodles.” The Growing Hands-On Kids logo appears in the lower left corner. PIN IT

Benefits of Gross Motor Warm-Ups for Handwriting

Activate the Core and Postural Muscles

Handwriting doesn’t begin with the hands, it begins with the core. Children need strong postural control to sit upright, stabilize their trunk, and free their arms and hands for fine motor work.

Gross motor activities like arm circles, wall push-ups, or animal walks engage those large muscle groups, improving endurance for writing tasks.

Support Motor Planning and Body Awareness

Gross motor warm-ups help children develop proprioception (knowing where their body is in space) and motor planning (figuring out how to move their body to complete a task).

This is essential for tasks like:

  • Aligning letters on a line
  • Spacing words evenly
  • Controlling pencil pressure

Wake Up the Shoulders, Arms, and Hands

Before fine motor control can happen, children need proximal stability — stability at the shoulder and upper arm — to support distal mobility (refined finger movement).

Gross motor warm-ups like shoulder rolls or rainbow tracing loosen up the upper body, improve joint stability, and can reduce fatigue during writing.

Help Regulate Energy and Focus

Movement prepares the nervous system for learning. Whether a child needs to calm down, wake up, or reorganize their attention, gross motor warm-ups can be adapted:

  • Slow, rhythmic movements calm and center
  • Quick, bouncy actions alert and engage
  • Heavy work like pushing or pulling regulates and grounds

They Build Confidence Through Success

Many children who struggle with handwriting also experience frustration and avoidance.

Gross motor warm-ups are fun, success-oriented, and low-pressure. This helps build momentum and boost confidence before the challenging fine motor work begins.

For more handwriting resources, check out the links below.

A promotional image for “Hand Exercise Warm-Up Cards” featuring illustrations of various hand and arm exercises such as "Put on Imaginary Gloves," "Chair Push-Ups," "Spider Push-Ups," and "Crocodile Snaps." Each card includes a visual of the movement and a brief description. The bottom text states “Digital Download/PDF Version Only” with the website shop.growinghandsonkids.com. The Growing Hands-On Kids logo appears in the lower right corner. PIN IT

Hand Exercise Warm-Up Activity Cards – Instant Download – $10

Looking for an easy way to prep little hands for fine motor and handwriting success? These Hand Exercise Warm-Up Activity Cards are just what you need!

This digital set includes 11 engaging warm-up activities that target the shoulder, arm, and hand muscles—perfect for setting the stage for focused, successful learning.

CLICK HERE TO BUY YOURS

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    Heather Greutman, COTA

    Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based OT services for preschool through high school. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies for parents, educators, and therapists. She is the author of many ebooks including The Basics of Fine Motor Skills, and Basics of Pre-Writing Skills, and co-author of Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators.

    CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
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    All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.

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