Cross tracing worksheets
A cross is two straight lines that meet in the middle: one from top to bottom, one from left to right. It looks simple, but it asks for something new, because the crayon has to lift off the paper, move to a new start point and begin a second stroke that crosses the first.
Each cross on these sheets is drawn as two separate dotted strokes. The down stroke has its start disc at the top and its finish ring at the bottom, with an arrow beside it pointing down. The across stroke has its own start on the left and finish on the right, with its own arrow. Two clear starts make it easy to talk about which line comes first.
The bigger setting draws four crosses 64 mm tall with 2.4 mm dots; the smaller one fits six crosses of 48 mm.
Preview the sheets
Tips for crosses
- Do the down stroke first, all the way to its ring, then find the second green dot together.
- Call it a “plus” or a kite frame, or add a circle round it to make a wheel or a hot cross bun.
- Practise lifting the crayon: tap the start dot, tap the finish ring, then join them up.
- Two colours, one for each stroke, make it easy to see the two separate lines.
- If the second stroke wanders, put a small sticker in the very centre as a target to pass through.
- Lay two pencils on the table to make a cross first, then trace over where they meet with a finger.
Settings used
Dots Ø 2.4 mm · 5.5 mm apart
Start dot Ø 8 mm · finish ring Ø 6.4 mm
16 mm margins · A4 or US Letter
Questions parents ask
Which line should my child draw first?
The sheets suggest the down stroke first and then the across stroke, which matches how many children are later shown to form a plus sign or the letter t. If your child prefers the other order, that is fine; what matters is two straight strokes.
Why does each cross have two start dots?
A cross is made of two separate strokes, so each needs its own beginning and end. Giving each stroke its own solid start dot and finish ring shows that the crayon lifts off between them, which is the new skill on this sheet.
My child draws the cross in one go without lifting. Is that wrong?
Not wrong, just a different route. Some children trace down, then go back up and across without lifting. You can model lifting the crayon and starting again at the second green dot, but there is no need to insist. Over time, lifting the crayon tends to happen on its own once the two strokes are thought of as separate lines, and the two green dots help make that idea visible.
What comes after crosses?
Squares are a natural next step, since they also combine across and down strokes but add corners. Slanted lines are another option, as they lead towards diagonal crosses and triangles later. Pick whichever your child seems curious about. Circles are also a good contrast, because they ask for one continuous curve instead of two separate straight strokes.