Helping Rose Park Children As They Begin to Write

There are several foundational skills that children will develop during the early years of their lives, and one that's very notable is writing. While each child will develop writing skills at their own rate, there are some typical age ranges where this tends to begin - and some simple ways parents and educators alike can assist children who are beginning to write. 

At First Steps Childcare & Preschool, reading and writing skill development is an important part of all of our educational and child care programs, which include preschool and kindergarten classes for Rose Park and nearby families. What can parents, teachers and other caregivers in a child's life do to support writing development? Let's take a look.

Timing Considerations

While there is no single defined age at which writing begins, most children will start to develop basic writing skills in the first few years of school. Writing typically follows reading in most cases, so the earlier a child is exposed to reading and phonics, the sooner they will begin to develop writing skills.

Younger kids who are beginning to write may form letters incorrectly, and this is a normal part of the learning process. By age 5-7, most children can form all letters properly and will be able to write simple sentences with proper spacing between words.

Keeping Writing Supplies Around

One major step that parents and teachers can take to encourage writing development is to keep plenty of writing supplies on hand, including pens, pencils, paper, and crayons. Allowing a child access to these supplies encourages curiosity and exploration, which can lead to the formation of words and letters.

For instance, a child may be interested in tracing shapes and lines, which can lead to the formation of letters. Parents and teachers should also consider leaving blank paper around for children to draw on.

Reading Aloud & Word Games

Encouraging a love of reading is one major way to support writing development. Reading aloud is recommended for children of all ages - not just young ones. It helps them develop phonemic awareness, which is a skill that will be necessary for writing later on. Word games like Scrabble and Boggle can also help children gain an understanding of letters and words.

Encouraging Play With Letters

Another great avenue for supporting writing development is to provide children with the opportunity to play with letters. Matching games, puzzles, and even magnetic letters can be fun while helping a child understand the concepts of words and spelling.

Many kids also enjoy cutting out shapes and forming them into letters as they begin to recognize them. As they develop here, you can move from forming single letters to eventually putting them together in words.

It's a Process

As you move through the process of helping a child develop their writing skills, it's important to remember that each one is unique and may take longer or shorter periods of time to learn. You should not be looking for outright perfection in any young child as they are still developing and learning.

Rather, the goal is to create an atmosphere where they feel comfortable exploring letters and words in a fun way - this will nurture their natural curiosity and help them develop a lifelong love for reading and writing.

Hand and Motor Development

For some children, one of the tougher parts of writing development is the ability to hold a writing instrument in their hand. If a child is having difficulty holding and using a pencil or pen, it's important to provide them with other activities that help to build motor skills, like coloring with crayons, painting with watercolors, drawing shapes and simple pictures, and even playing sports.

There are a variety of methods you can consider here, from occupational therapy to simply providing fun and engaging activities.

Creating the Right Environment

Finally, it's important to ensure that you create a supportive environment where your child can feel comfortable exploring writing. Provide plenty of paper or other blank surfaces for them to practice on without judgment or pressure.

Allow extra time when they are gathering their thoughts and forming sentences, and don't be afraid to use positive reinforcement when they are making progress.

By taking each of these steps, you can help your child develop strong writing skills - which will serve them well in the years to come. For more here, or to learn about how writing and reading skills are emphasized in multiple ways in our various educational and child care programs for Rose Park and nearby families, speak to our team at First Steps Childcare & Preschool today.