Dear families,

We have a big group of future Kindergartners and I have been getting questions about how to support children to learn to write their first letters.

As I mentioned in our ABCs All Around Us post, learning letters and all other activities on the road to learning to read and write have to be fun and meaningful to young children. Children learn so much while playfully exploring letters in hands-on, fun activities.   Learning to write as well as learning to read are developmental processes that don’t happen overnight and children should not be rushed! You can rest assured knowing that you are already doing many things to support them.

Writing development starts at home with opportunities for children to use a wide variety of materials (crayons, chalk, paint, markers, fat pencils) for mark making (scribbles, lines, shapes, drawings etc.). When we offer variety of interesting, unusual materials and tools children learn to use their hands in many ways. Their brain is developing too, preparing them for many more complex tasks and jobs. When we provide opportunities for children to develop fine motor skills (play dough, clay or other sensory doughs, drawing, painting, cutting, treading etc.) they develop strength in their hands and wrists and different grips. Picking up small items, using small tools (Q tips for painting for example) will help them use their hands/fingers properly and effectively in the future. Other everyday activities are helpful as well, things like buttoning shirts, pulling zippers, using chopsticks, utensils, and so much more!

Children need to have a purpose to write, so try suggesting that they draw a picture for their grandparent(s) or a card for their sibling. When they play store, restaurant, doctor, offer pads and pencils for pretend writing lists, “prescriptions” etc.

Researchers tell us that producing letters helps children recognize them. Children see and feel the shape of the letter and experience the physical motion of making it. What better way to make a meaningful connection for a child than his/her name. If your child does not  yet know how to write their name, you can try writing it in big letters with chalk and looking together for a fun materials  to “produce” the special letters of the name. These fun materials can be playdough, paint, cheerios, small rocks, beads, sequins, rice and anything else you imagine! Next they can move on to mom’s name, their brother’s name, etc.

To explore lines you can use pipe cleaners, party beads, yarns, hair twisting curlers (as seen on the collage bellow in : MIA), gardening ties (as in Rob).

Hope you find these activity ideas fun and helpful on your child’s journey to writing their first letters.

Ms. Lillian