When we talk about “writing” at school we are actually referring to two different areas of curriculum. There is the actual formation of letters and numerals, which we usually call “handwriting” and is a fine motor skill and there is the eventual creation of sentences and stories, which falls under literacy.
As mentioned in Mrs. Smith’s principal message this week, our kindergarteners learn to print with a program titled, Handwriting Without Tears. Please be aware that this task is developmental in nature and therefore excessive practice is often not the best suggestion for improvement. Children need to strengthen their hand and finger muscles so that actual handwriting instruction is better carried out. While there is some truth to the old adage, “practice makes perfect”; line after line of letter practice is tiring and boring. Children will progress at different rates as is true of most other developmental milestones.
Here are some suggestions to make fine motor practice fun! Know, too, that gross motor skills such as running, playing on the playground, etc., are also helpful to the development of fine motor skills.
HANDWRITING ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS!
-make lists: grocery lists, lists of favorite TV shows, favorite kinds of dogs, whatever is of interest to your child!
-write with fingers on a cookie sheet of shaving cream, flour, rice, or salt
-write on a dry erase board or a chalkboard
-write in the air with fingers
-rainbow writing: write a word and then trace it with different colors
-keep a journal book: write a sentence or two of their choice from a book and draw a picture to go with it!
-write letters to grandparents, family or friends far away
-Mad Libs!
-Q-tips, chalk and water writing
-use window markers or dry erase markers on windows or mirrors
-bath crayons in the tub
-write with glue
-use disappearing ink or invisible ink to write secret messages
-sidewalk chalk on the driveway
-window tracing on those cold days
-set up a writing center
-use a paintbrush and water on a chalkboard or outside in the driveway
-use your fingers to write on the carpet
-write with cooked (or uncooked) spaghetti noodles
-keep a conversation journal: parent and child write back and forth to each other
-make gift tags to practice writing names and Happy Birthday, Happy Holidays, etc.
-write with a stick in the dirt or sand
-sensory salt tray and writing with a candy cane
-use a drawing app on a tablet and write words with your finger or stylus
-fill a ziploc bag with paint or hair gel and write with your finger
-draw a map of your house, neighborhood, or town and label places on the map
-make birthday cards or holiday cards
-play pretend restaurant and make a menu and take orders
-write on an AquaDoodle or MagnaDoodle
-use a family mailbox to write letters to each other
Make it fun and practical…kids love to know that their writing carries meaning and impacts others.
As mentioned in Mrs. Smith’s principal message this week, our kindergarteners learn to print with a program titled, Handwriting Without Tears. Please be aware that this task is developmental in nature and therefore excessive practice is often not the best suggestion for improvement. Children need to strengthen their hand and finger muscles so that actual handwriting instruction is better carried out. While there is some truth to the old adage, “practice makes perfect”; line after line of letter practice is tiring and boring. Children will progress at different rates as is true of most other developmental milestones.
Here are some suggestions to make fine motor practice fun! Know, too, that gross motor skills such as running, playing on the playground, etc., are also helpful to the development of fine motor skills.
HANDWRITING ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS!
-make lists: grocery lists, lists of favorite TV shows, favorite kinds of dogs, whatever is of interest to your child!
-write with fingers on a cookie sheet of shaving cream, flour, rice, or salt
-write on a dry erase board or a chalkboard
-write in the air with fingers
-rainbow writing: write a word and then trace it with different colors
-keep a journal book: write a sentence or two of their choice from a book and draw a picture to go with it!
-write letters to grandparents, family or friends far away
-Mad Libs!
-Q-tips, chalk and water writing
-use window markers or dry erase markers on windows or mirrors
-bath crayons in the tub
-write with glue
-use disappearing ink or invisible ink to write secret messages
-sidewalk chalk on the driveway
-window tracing on those cold days
-set up a writing center
-use a paintbrush and water on a chalkboard or outside in the driveway
-use your fingers to write on the carpet
-write with cooked (or uncooked) spaghetti noodles
-keep a conversation journal: parent and child write back and forth to each other
-make gift tags to practice writing names and Happy Birthday, Happy Holidays, etc.
-write with a stick in the dirt or sand
-sensory salt tray and writing with a candy cane
-use a drawing app on a tablet and write words with your finger or stylus
-fill a ziploc bag with paint or hair gel and write with your finger
-draw a map of your house, neighborhood, or town and label places on the map
-make birthday cards or holiday cards
-play pretend restaurant and make a menu and take orders
-write on an AquaDoodle or MagnaDoodle
-use a family mailbox to write letters to each other
Make it fun and practical…kids love to know that their writing carries meaning and impacts others.