Teachers and schools should share information with families about fine motor, mark making, drawing and writing development. Encouraging appropriate pencil grip, fine motor activities, and writing support, will help children develop the tools and skills necessary to begin writing independently.
Some activities that promote Fine Motor Development:
- Helping to cook: measuring, sorting, cutting and pouring ingredients.
- Lego and Block play.
- Cleaning up toys – especially small ones.
- Doing puzzles.
- Sorting any small manipulatives.
- Playing with play-doh or clay.
- Stringing beads, cheerios, or pasta.
- Sorting socks, silverware, etc.
- Using sponges to wash and clean.
- Basters or eye droppers in the sink or bath.
Families can continue to support young writers by:
- Demonstrating the many reasons why people need to read and write in the home and outside world.
- Writing on paper, which is more meaningful for young children than typing.
- Taking advantage of any writing opportunity children can participate in such as:
- composing shopping or grocery lists
- sending notes
- making cards (birthdays, thank-yous, etc.)
- creating visual schedules
- writing letters to mail
All of these can be done through mark-making, drawing, and/or writing. Remember that various forms of writing will hold deep meaning for children at different levels of development. Inviting children to make visual messages to which adults (and children) can “add words” supports children toward becoming confident and competent writers.