In the schoolhouse, learning to write goes hand in hand with blackboards, pencils, and erasers.  But in your own house, things like pudding, puzzles, and play are the essential teaching tools.

Learning to write starts long before your child ever sets foot in school.  Before your child can pick up a pencil, she needs physical skills (fine motor development, hand-eye coordination, and muscle strength). She also needs to understand that words and letters have meaning.

The Fun-damentals

Smear and Play
For babies, it’s about learning to hold and play with books and objects, and feeling good.

• Hold her on your lap while you write. Tell her what you are doing. As she gets older, show her how to use thick, nontoxic markers and crayons.
• Let her hold it. Give your baby safe things to grasp (fingers), bang (spoons), pick up (rattles), and yes, smear (yogurt).

Scribble and Pretend
For toddlers, it’s time to connect writing to real life.

• Pretend write. Play “grocery store” or “restaurant.” Have your child “write” lists or food orders.
• Move those muscles. Use different materials and tools. Squeeze (sponges), pour (water), spread (nontoxic finger paint), grasp (silverware).

Write Away
Your preschooler probably understands the purpose of writing. Help her form and recognize letters and spell through everyday activities.

• Write for real. Have her draw a picture and “sign her name” on thank-you notes or birthday cards.
• Build strong hands. Let her practice cutting (using safety scissors), tracing, or working on simple mazes and puzzles.

Remember, instead of critiquing your child’s work, be playful and enjoy her effort. Be sure to point out the importance of printed words and give your child lots of opportunities to use her hands and be creative. You will see that the results are, well, fun-tastic.

Special thanks to Robert Needleman, PhD, Nina Sazer O’Donnell, and Kyle Snow, PhD, for the generous donation of their valuable time and expertise in reviewing this edition of Bits of Understanding.

Civitas thanks Parents as Teachers, an international early childhood parent education and family support program, for their ongoing support. This Civitas tool was adapted for the Born Learning campaign.

© 2007 Civitas