Getting Ready to Write

Getting a child ready to write involves many components. Many children need additional practice in order to learn to form letters. Letters are symbols for communication just as numbers are symbols for math.

A picture is, developmentally, a child’s early representation of a thought or idea. Children need to experience drawing pictures even if they are as simple as lollipop, a person, a tree, the sun, a house, etc. or even just part of a picture initially until their skill level increases. A child needs to learn how to form lines in many orientations and in relation to each other prior to having the visual-motor ability to form a letter. That sequence begins with forming a: vertical line > horizontal line > circle > cross > diagonal lines > square > X and so on. Children can work on the above hierarchal sequence in many ways other than just with a marker and paper. There are many pre-handwriting workbooks out on the market that provide pencil and paper activities for this sequence of line formation. HOWEVER, wouldn’t it be more fun to move our bodies through these different planes in order to appreciate a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line as in follow the leader, or use sidewalk chalk to make lines or roads to ride a bike on or even walk in these planes of direction, or shaving cream in the bath tub to make these lines, or even finger paint or play dough to make these kinds of lines.

Some children even though they are chronologically at the age that handwriting is typically introduced may not necessarily be ready for letter formation for a variety of reasons.   Activities may need to be put in place to help a child develop strength and fine motor coordination necessary for grasping and manipulating a marker, crayon or pencil.

Don’t rush it and have fun!