Teaching Your Preschooler to Write
Writing is such an exciting milestone to watch your child reach. While no one expects 2-year-olds to be able to sign their name, writing begins as early a child’s first scribble. Early childhood educators agree that early writing skills start well before a child learns to hold a pencil correctly. Whether your child attends daycare, childcare, or stays home, writing skills open up a world of creativity and strong fine motor skills that set them up for the journey lifelong literacy.
In this article, we’ll explore the research behind the importance of writing in early childhood education and some practical ways to support your little one as they make their first scribbles and beyond.
Give your child a strong start in writing and literacy with us here at Chester Child Development Center. Schedule a visit to meet our teachers and see learning happening right before your eyes. We would love to share the strategies and techniques we utilize to help nurture young writers from the start!
Strategies for Encouraging Writing
1. Start with Scribbles and Drawing
Scribbles might not look like much, but they are actually the first stages of writing. Provide different materials such as chalk, crayons, markers, construction paper, etc. and let your child’s creativity take over. As a preschooler practices and their hand control grows, they will be able to write and draw more and more. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) supports that early writing is not just about letters; it includes scribbling, drawing, and mark-making–building essential skills for later reading and writing.
Call today to schedule a tour here at Chester Child Development Center and see how we encourage early writing and creativity through drawing, scribbles, and art projects that prepare little hands for writing.
2. Use Playful Tools
Writing doesn’t always need to include paper and pencil! Try spicing up practice by writing in sand, tracing shapes with finger paint, or using playdough to form letters (Zero to Three). When learning is fun, not only do children tend to retain more, but they are also much less inclined to fuss about future lessons.
Come see us here at Chester Child Development Center and ask our early childhood educators about the different and creative ways they have their students practice early writing skills.
3. Build Fine Motor Strength
Childcare, daycare, and early childhood education teachers alike will incorporate fine motor activities like stringing beads, cutting with safety scissors, or stacking blocks from an early age. The OT Toolbox suggests practices like these because they will help lay a solid foundation for writing skills by strengthening children’s fine motor muscles
Call today to ask about our classroom openings here at Chester Child Development Center and to schedule a tour. We would love to show you around as well as show off our students’ masterful works of art and writing!
4. Model and Encourage Writing
Children love to imitate adults. When children see parents or teachers writing–grocery lists, notes, stories, etc.–children see writing as both purposeful and important. The organization Zero to Three agrees, finding that children will see the adults in their life write and begin to understand that writing has purpose and meaning, and then begin to emulate that with writing of their own.
Fun Tip: As you are going about your daily duties, allow your little one to ‘help’ by adding their initials or addition to your list or note. This will not only be very exciting but will also make them feel important.
Come by and see us here at Chester Child Development Center, we would love to show you our daily lesson plans and share the strategies we employ daily to give our students quality writing skills practice.
Big Stories Start Small
Teaching a preschooler to write is an exciting journey and with some intentional play, a bit of patience, and a lot of practice, both childcare and daycare programs—and parents at home—can give children the tools they need to succeed in early childhood education and beyond.
From early scribbles to writing their name for the first time, here at Chester Child Development Center we love to support children and see their writing take off. Call today to schedule a tour and take that next step towards sparking a lifelong love of writing–together!