Wondering how learning how to write for preschool-aged children can be helpful? This post will show you all the benefits and give you tips on how to help your preschooler get confidence in their writing abilities.
Learning how to write for preschool age children is a pretty hefty task! You will find that some preschoolers learn better one way, while other learn better an entirely different way! And that is Okay! As their parent and educator, your goal is to support them by helping them find ways that work for them. Every child is different and deserves to be treated that way.
Part of learning how to write for preschoolers is gaining the confidence and focus needed to complete the task. If they believe that they can do it, they can! Confidence is one of those skills that can help out in so many avenues of life, so why not teach your child how to be confident at a very young age?
I will go over some great ideas that will get your preschooler writing the fun way and without all the struggle!
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Fun Ways To Teach Preschoolers How To Write
- Sand Writing is a fun way to help your preschooler learn the correct motions that go with writing. Kids really enjoy this activity and it’s also a great sensory tool as well. Here is a quick video on how you can use this writing technique with either numbers or letters.
- Finger painting is also another great way for preschoolers to practice their writing skills. You can write the letters out on craft paper and have them trace your letters using finger paint. Watch and guide them on the proper letter formation.
- Coloring sheets are great for helping children to learn pencil control when writing. Let your child scribble, doodle, and have fun with coloring sheets. Gently encourage them to stay inside the lines as much as possible. Just note, that this will be a difficult task for some. Remember it’s all about fun!
Teach Preschoolers To Write Their First Name
Children LOVE seeing their name in writing. Even more so, they take great pride in being able to write their own name. Teach your child to write their first name by practicing the letters in their name over and over. Remember we are not looking for perfection.
- Tracing sheets are great for improving pencil control and letter formation. The video below is a great example on how to do this PLUS she also shows you how to create a custom printable sheet with your child’s name on it! How cool is that!
Mistakes To Avoid When Teaching Your Preschooler To Write
- Rushing them as they try to write. Allow your child to take their time and go slow through the writing activities. Always start with the fun activities first before moving on to worksheets. This will help them build up confidence before they even put the marker/pencil to the paper!
- Punishing them for incorrect form. Learning to write is big task for little ones. A good way to compare their struggle is to try out calligraphy. If you have never done calligraphy before you will find at first that it can be frustrating. Children are the same way. It’s brand new to them and will take some time. Always offer praise for their effort.
- Not encouraging proper grip. It’s so tricky for little hands to grip a marker or pencil at first, but allow bad form. It will be a hard habit to break later on. Gently encourage proper pencil grip right from the start to help prevent future issues.
- Not practicing enough. It’s super important to practice handwriting on a daily basis if possible. It will help children improve and gain confidence. Just remember to switch up tasks so they don’t get bored.
Great handwriting resources to add to your homeschool!
- Write and Wipe Alphabet Book: This book is always a huge hit! They have fun checking out all the different pages and practicing their writing in a fun way. Kids will get to practice writing letters and numbers.
- Finger paint and finger paint paper! Let them get messy and have fun practicing their handwriting skills with this fun finger paint kit. It has everything you need to get started.
- Crayola tracing pad. Kids will go crazy over practicing their handwriting with this tracing pad by Crayola! Just slip in some tracing sheet printables and you’re good to go!
- Magnetic letter tracing board. This board is amazing! It really is a great tool for young children who struggle with letter formation. The magnetic pin along with the magnetic balls in the board help children drastically improve their writing form.
I hope this posts helps to encourage you to teach your children handwriting in a fun way. As mentioned before, learning how to write for preschoolers and pose a challenge, but as you can see it can be fun and rewarding too!
