Writing Numbers in English for Kids: From Digit to Word
Children learn to write numbers in English in two stages: first the digit’s shape (1, 2, 3), then the number as a word (one, two, three). This article explains both stages and links each digit to the one your child already knows.
- Suitable age
- 5 to 7 years
- Suggested time
- 5 to 10 minutes a day
- What you need
- A thick pencil, white paper, and tracing sheets (optional)
- write the digits 0 to 9 in the right direction, starting from the top.
- link each digit to the Arabic digit they already know, such as 3 = ٣.
- write short number words like one, six and ten.
Stage One: Writing the Digit
The basic rule: every digit starts at the top. The best way to teach is for your child to watch the digit being written slowly, then write it in the air with a finger, then on paper.
| Digit | Arabic | How to write it | Its name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ٠ | Start at the top and curve to the left until you close an oval. | zero |
| 1 | ١ | One straight line from top to bottom. | |
| 2 | ٢ | A small curve at the top to the right, then a slanted line down, then a line across. | |
| 3 | ٣ | Two small curves to the right, one above the other. | |
| 4 | ٤ | A line down, then a line across, then a long line from the top that crosses it. | |
| 5 | ٥ | A short line down, then a big tummy to the right, then a short line across the top. | |
| 6 | ٦ | Start at the top with a curve down, then go round and close a small circle. | |
| 7 | ٧ | A line across the top, then a long slanted line down. | |
| 8 | ٨ | Start like an s, then go back up and close it: two circles, one above the other. | |
| 9 | ٩ | A small circle at the top, then a straight line down on its right. |
Note: many children write 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 backwards. This is normal at six. Put a green dot where the pencil starts and a small arrow showing the direction.
Stage Two: Writing the Number as a Word
Start with short words that are spelled the way they sound: one, two, six and ten. Then move on to words with silent letters:
| Word | What to watch for |
|---|---|
| four | It has a u you don’t hear. |
| eight | eigh sounds like “ay”, so the word is said “ate”. |
| two | It has a w you don’t hear. |
| forty | It’s spelled without a u, even though four has one. |
Steps for Teaching a New Digit
- Watch: write the digit slowly in front of your child and say its name in English.
- Write in the air: your child writes the digit in the air with a finger while saying its name.
- Trace: they run the pencil over a dotted digit, starting at the green dot.
- Write alone: they write the digit on their own three or four times.
- Link it to an amount: they draw that many circles next to the digit.
Activities That Make Writing Fun
- Back writing: write a number with your finger on your child’s back; they guess it and say it in English.
- A salt tray: spread a thin layer of salt or sand on a tray. Your child writes the number with a finger, then shakes the tray and writes another.
- Matching cards: cards with digits like 3 and cards with words like three. Your child matches each digit to its word.
In the number worksheets there are ten free sheets: tracing digits and their words, matching digits to words, and filling in missing letters. The article Numbers 1 to 100 in Words has a chart of all the number words. And for writing numbers in an English notebook: How to Write in an English Notebook.
One number a day: your child draws it in the air with their arm, then with a finger on the table, then traces it on paper.
Write the number large on the board in the right direction while the children draw it in the air with you, then one tracing sheet.
Summary
- Writing numbers comes in two stages: the digit’s shape first, then the number as a word.
- Every digit starts at the top, and a colored starting dot helps your child remember.
- Writing a digit backwards is normal at six and improves with practice.
- Start with short number words, then move on to words with silent letters, like four and eight.
Frequently Asked Questions
My child writes the Arabic digits ٣ and ٤. Should they learn 3 and 4 now?
Yes, this is right for Grade 1. Show each digit next to its Arabic partner: ٣ = 3, ٤ = 4. The shapes differ but the meaning is the same, and children learn both easily when they see them side by side.
When should a child write numbers as words, like three?
Once they know each digit’s shape and name and can count to 10 confidently. Start with short words, one, two, six and ten, then the rest.
Which number words are hardest to spell?
The hardest are four (with its u), eight (eigh sounds like “ay”), twelve, and forty, which is spelled without a u.
