Sarah Morris emailed this parenting article to me to post. Enjoy. Thanks for the article, Sarah.
Encourage Your Child's Scribbling:
The Beginnings of Writing
Submitted by Sarah Morris on behalf of Primrose Schools- the
leaders in preschool and
kindergarten education.
Children observe adults writing daily
in numerous ways, from scribbling notes to filling out forms. Moreover, this
observational curiosity often leads to a desire to begin writing themselves.
Although their early writing attempts are commonly referred to as 'scribbling,'
this can be consider a nascent form of legitimate writing. Typically, the first
conscious effort a child makes is to write his or her own name. From an adult's
point of view, this attempt may ostensibly be random scribbling, yet upon
closer examination the patterns in each scribble will vaguely resemble letters.
Such a moment is cause for celebration, the first step of a long journey to
communicating with the written word.
Nevertheless, it behooves a parent or teacher not to emphasize precise letter formation at this stage. A pedantic approach to penmanship will send the message that mimicking how adults write is more critical than the act of communication. It is important to create a distinction between penmanship skill and writing as a way to express their emotions. Furthermore, chastising a child can foster feelings of frustration and inadequacy with relation to writing. It helps to remember that many young children are still developing the coordination and motor skills required to write properly. Accepting where they are in their development can help parents and teachers guide their letter formation gently.
A healthy writing atmosphere will help encourage children to communicate via stories and messages. By giving them nothing more than paper, writing utensils, and positive reinforcement, children will show enthusiasm in demonstrating their writing ability.
• Writing tools - Keep pencils and paper everywhere. By having ready access to the tools of writing, children will be more inclined to practice wherever they go.
• Reading - Reading to your child can help acclimate them to letters. The juxtaposition of pictures and text also helps them associate words with bright, energetic pictures.
• Imitation - Children have a tendency to mimic their parents. Make a habit of keeping lists, writing notes, or using a whiteboard to list daily reminders. Watching you write will trigger their curiosity. If they inquire about writing, show them how to hold a pencil and practice forming letters. If they struggle to hold a pencil, they can also try writing letters in the air with their hand.
• Email - These days, traditional writing is being replaced by keyboards in a variety of ways. As the most important aspect of writing is communication, you should encourage a child to practice writing with whatever method they enjoy. Sending an email to a relative is and familiarizing them with the keyboard is another way to encourage writing development.
Nevertheless, it behooves a parent or teacher not to emphasize precise letter formation at this stage. A pedantic approach to penmanship will send the message that mimicking how adults write is more critical than the act of communication. It is important to create a distinction between penmanship skill and writing as a way to express their emotions. Furthermore, chastising a child can foster feelings of frustration and inadequacy with relation to writing. It helps to remember that many young children are still developing the coordination and motor skills required to write properly. Accepting where they are in their development can help parents and teachers guide their letter formation gently.
A healthy writing atmosphere will help encourage children to communicate via stories and messages. By giving them nothing more than paper, writing utensils, and positive reinforcement, children will show enthusiasm in demonstrating their writing ability.
• Writing tools - Keep pencils and paper everywhere. By having ready access to the tools of writing, children will be more inclined to practice wherever they go.
• Reading - Reading to your child can help acclimate them to letters. The juxtaposition of pictures and text also helps them associate words with bright, energetic pictures.
• Imitation - Children have a tendency to mimic their parents. Make a habit of keeping lists, writing notes, or using a whiteboard to list daily reminders. Watching you write will trigger their curiosity. If they inquire about writing, show them how to hold a pencil and practice forming letters. If they struggle to hold a pencil, they can also try writing letters in the air with their hand.
• Email - These days, traditional writing is being replaced by keyboards in a variety of ways. As the most important aspect of writing is communication, you should encourage a child to practice writing with whatever method they enjoy. Sending an email to a relative is and familiarizing them with the keyboard is another way to encourage writing development.
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