Do you want to help your child start writing? Here are some things to think about
When your child masters writing their first letter or their name, they may feel extremely proud to have made (and left) their mark and this may feel like a really important rite of passage.
Writing recognisable letters is a very complex skill to master, one that involves many streams of development such as, language, cognitive, emotional and gross and fine motor elements, all of which have to be coordinated and integrated.
At first, when we are learning to write, forming each letter can take great concentration and effort, as we plan and carry out the combination of movements, but over time, with continual practice, writing and other similar actions which are just as complicated, such as knitting, or even playing a tune on a musical instrument, can be performed almost automatically and without thought.
At My First Five Years, we know that the journey to develop and master the varied skills which lead to smooth and fluent writing should not be hurried. Earlier is not always better, rather laying strong foundations which are appropriate for your child’s current stage of development is the key to later success.
Writing letters involves your child integrating their still-developing fine motor skills with an understanding of written language, in order to produce a mark that they know has meaning.
We advocate a broad approach, offering a range of meaningful activities which foster a desire to write letters is really helpful to support your child as they navigate this stage. If your child sees you modelling writing, in real life situations or as part of everyday tasks, this will help them to see that we live in a literate world where marks provide a valuable means of communication. Aim to engage your child with their own meaningful writing opportunities as often as possible, such as jotting down a shopping list, writing a birthday card for a friend or filling out a calendar.
Remember, motor development does not progress at the same rate, or in the same pattern for all children. There is broad variation in the ‘typical’ age that children progress through motor milestones.
For more tips to develop fine motor control check out the article on our My First Five Years website: