Teach your child: Teach Your Child the Letter g in 10 Seconds (Handwriting Trick)
In the early stages of writing, many children find certain letters—like ‘g’, ‘d’, and ‘a’—confusingly similar. If your child’s ‘g’ often looks like an ‘a’, or they struggle with where to start the pencil, a simple mnemonic can make all the difference.
Here is a quick, fun way to help your child master the lowercase letter ‘g’ using a trick that connects handwriting with storytelling.
The “Girl’s Hair” Handwriting Trick
Visual cues are incredibly powerful for early learners. By turning the shape of the letter into a character, children can better remember the sequence of movements required for correct formation.
The Phrase to Remember:
“Round the girl’s hair, up, and down her plait.”
This simple rhyme guides the child through each step:
-
“Round the girl’s hair”: Start by drawing the circular face/hair (similar to a ‘c’).
-
“Up”: Close the circle by moving the pencil back to the top.
-
“And down her plait”: Draw the long tail (the plait) straight down, finishing with a graceful hook to the left.
How to Practice at Home
You don’t need a desk and a workbook to get started. Here is how you can turn this into a quick daily activity:
-
Watch Together: Show your child the motion of the letter. You can use a visual guide or follow along with a quick demonstration video
-
Air Writing: Before putting pen to paper, have your child “write” the letter in the air using big arm movements while saying the rhyme out loud.
-
Tactile Learning: Try “writing” the letter in a tray of sand, shaving foam, or even on a foggy window.
-
On Paper: Once they are comfortable with the shape, move to paper. Remind them that the “plait” or tail of the ‘g’ should hang below the line.
Why Proper Formation Matters
Teaching correct letter formation early on helps prevent bad habits that can lead to hand fatigue or messy handwriting later in school. In reception and Year 1, children are often introduced to “lead-ins” for cursive writing. If your child is ready for this, the sequence changes slightly: “Slide up, come back round, up, down, and then through” .
Looking for More Handwriting Tips?
Mastering the alphabet is a journey of small wins. Save this simple trick to practice again tomorrow, and stay tuned for the next letter in our formation series!
For more early years phonics and handwriting activities, follow Early Years Pad on your favorite social media channel.
