Letters and Numbers!

I remember one day looking at my children, who were about 15 months, and watching them color with crayons. They had the crayon in a death grip, pudgy fingers wrapped all around the crayon, clumsily drawing on paper.

All of the sudden I realized that they will need to develop from this to writing actual letters, legible letters, holding a pencil properly….how was this going to happen?!

It was exactly how I would feel looking at a big wooly sheep and a beautiful rug…how does one become the other….how do I help one become the other!?

Amazingly, it happens, and most of it happens without much intervention. Our job as parents are to offer experiences (i.e.: have crayons and pencils and paper available) and be a guide and model.

It is important to remember that children learn at different rates and some children may have more of an interest in drawing than others and thus get more practice but there are some general milestones.

Around 2 to 2 ½ years old the child is able to scribble on paper and will tell you what they have drawn (even though it may just look like chicken scratch, it is most certainly a race car).

Around 2 ½ years old the child is able to hold a pencil in a writing position versus the palm grasp seen before.

Between the ages of 3 and 4 years old is the typical age for a child to begin to write letters and/or numbers. Some children will be writing their name by 3 ½ and some will just be getting started at one or two letters by 4 years old, and that is okay. Typically children are not expected to be adept at writing letters and words until first grade.

If your child has started showing an interest in writing letters or numbers here are some fun activities to encourage it:

Highlighter Tracing
Caregivers can use a highlighter pen to draw letters or numbers on paper and the child can use crayons, pencils or pens to trace the letters.

 

Sand Drawings

Use a cookie sheet or similar item and fill with sand (or sugar, bread crumbs, etc) with enough to cover the bottom completely. Children can use their fingers to draw letters and shapes in the sand, give a gentle shake and you start all over again!

CD Case Tablets

An old CD case makes a perfect medium for tracing. Slide a piece of paper inside the CD case (where the insert usually goes) with a shape, letter, number or the child’s name printed on it in large letters. Then give the child a dry-erase marker to trace and erase on the front of the CD case. When your child is school age, this is a great, fun way to practice spelling words!

Gooey Slimy Tracing
Using a cookie sheet or dark colored plastic plate fill with shaving cream (whipped cream, “slime” or “goo” (found at toy stores), or pudding) with enough to cover the bottom completely. Child can use their fingers to trace out letters, shapes or numbers.

You might be saying this right now: Amanda, these sound messy and involved. Why not just a regular pen and paper or workbook?

Research shows that multi-sensory stimulation is not only FUN it is very beneficial to learning.

A multi-sensory approach to language learning helps children learn through more than one of the senses at the same time. Children can be taught using all pathways of learning (visual, auditory, kinesthetic or seeing, hearing, touching) simultaneously, this can enhance memory and learning.

So give it a try! Teaching children that learning is fun might be the most important lesson we can give.

Do you have fun ideas for helping kids learn to write? What kinds of things do you do at home to encourage writing and drawing?

Edited to add:

Just saw this gem...a FREE class on this very topic in Phoenix.

Scribbles to Name Writing
April 8, 2011 6pm
Magical Star Preschool, 2232 N 36th St.
RSVP: Southwest Human Development 602-633-8654