Pre Writing
Physical Health and development Standard 2: Develops Fine Motor Skills
The activities are geared towards the Developmental Continuum Indicators
When looking for ways to develop the hand muscle so that your child’s hand is better equipped to handle all the writing that they will be doing in the class room, it is important to realize that simple play dough, matchbox cars, or snapping a dolls dress are all activities that can help to prepare your child for Pre-Writing.
The activities are geared towards the Developmental Continuum Indicators
When looking for ways to develop the hand muscle so that your child’s hand is better equipped to handle all the writing that they will be doing in the class room, it is important to realize that simple play dough, matchbox cars, or snapping a dolls dress are all activities that can help to prepare your child for Pre-Writing.
MARCH PRE-WRITING ACTIVITIES
Age TO 1: Infant transfers objects from one hand to the other and begins to pick up objects between thumb and finger. This is sometimes called the pincer grasp. The pincer grasp is what they will eventually use to hold a pencil for writing in school.
Age 2: Provide objects for them to open and close: clasp on purses or lids on containers. Use openings on little doll houses or barns to place things in and take them out. Provide opportunities to use various writing tools and experiment with grasp. As the hand gets stronger, the child will grasp the writing tool better. Eventually, the goal would be to hold the large marker between thumb and first two fingers in a type of a tripod grasp.
Age 3: Provide for your child a pair of preschool scissors. (There are left-handed ones available for those who have a dominant left hand.) Provide a construction paper shamrock to snip around the outside so that it looks like fur, just tiny little snips to practice how the scissors open and close. Provide practice this month with large buttons and zippers. Help them to see how they work.
Age 4: On a sheet of typing paper, draw a circle, square, and triangle. Provide room next to each shape so your child can trace it and then draw it next to the original. Perhaps use a green marker for this month… When your child is using his scissors, his thumb may appear on top as he grasps and cuts the paper.
Age 5: Guide your child’s hand to make a few letters as he is playing with writing tools. Pick letters such as the letters in his name, or the names of favorite toys. Write words on recipe cards and tape them next to the object labeled.
**On a sunny warmer day, have fun cleaning up the outdoor toys. Provide a sponge (to squeeze out) and a bucket of warm soapy water to help with spring cleaning of their outdoor toys. All ages can help with this activity.
THE TOOLS FOR MOTHERHOOD GRADUATES have shared some of the activities they have tried with their child in the area of Pre-Writing. Here are a few of the ideas...
Shamrock craft
So, I have been trying to do more crafts and such with the girls and I love having a month with a holiday. So, we’ve finished Valentines day and now we are doing St. Patrick’s Day crafts. There are soo many great ones out there and soo easy too.
In the pictures I’ve included Lexi is doing a shamrock craft. I drew a shamrock on a piece of paper. I let her tear up pieces of green paper and then I spread glue all over the picture and let her put the green pieces of torn paper on it. It was fun and she did a great job tearing paper and had such fun doing it too. So cute. I had Zoe do the same thing only on a smaller scale and she made St. Patty’s day cards for family.
I’ve also recently done a shamrock wreath with Zoe…. Shamrocks she cut out and glued on a paper plate to make a wreath. Again, soo cute! What great things to keep from year to year.
1 & 4 Years Old Play-Doh
The girls love, love, love play-doh and I only wish I loved it more--- what a mess it makes... But they love it so I tolerate it. It does keep them busy and they play pretty well together with the play-doh. So they have cookie cutters, scissors, plates, and bowls... All the necessities for great play-doh fun. They pretent to "eat" the different things they make. It's fun to see them play together nicely and it gives me time to do other things but in the mean time boy do I get "full." : )
Recommendations: Sure- great hand muscle development.
3 Years Old Trace Letters with Glitter Pens
I wrote Kaihtlyn's initials on cardstock and had her trace the letter "K" with her glitter pen. This was a difficult activity for her. She does not have control in her hands to trace and squeeze at the same time. So I helped guide her hand while she squeezed the glue pen; other wise the glitter was ending up in piles. : )
Changes: Possibly use elmers glue trace the letter then have her sprinkle loose glitter on it or let her use the glitter pens freely and let her paint the glitter around.
Recommendations: I would recommend it for older children who may have that hand control better if you want the letter really traced.
1 1/2 Years Old This is one of my favorite activities that Lexi does which is coloring. Of course this is because she does it sooo well by herself. So I simply let her work her little hand muscles by giving her crayons, markers (pip squeaks), colored pencils or pens and I can't forget the paper or coloring books. Though now I am an expert at getting any kind of marks off walls, furniture, applicance and floors. She just scribbles now, but she really enjoys seeing the pictures of people and especially animals in the coloring books. This is my favorite activity to do with her as we are getting dinner ready. I even keep crayons and paper in my purse. She loves to color/draw!--Heather
3 Years Old I sprayed shaving cream all over her highchair tray and hid the letter K in it. Her job was to find it. She found it almost immedicately. Then she just used her hands to fub around and pat the shaving cream. I would take her finger and help her write the letter "K" (for her name) in the shaving cream. She was always eager to mess it up. This was a very fun activity that honetly could be played with for as much time as you want and takes little supervision while the child is in the highchair.--Kahle
4 years Old So as the mail came, I noticed we got the new Toys R Us catalog and I thought it would be a great magazine to cut pictures out of and glue on Zoe's name. So I got a piece of cardstalk and wrote Zoe's name in large outlined letters. I got out the glue and scissors and surprised her with the catalog. I let her cut out pictures of things she liked and then she had to fit them in her name without covering up the shape of the letter. So not only was their hand strengthening going on with the scissors and glue, but some problem solving to see what pictures fit where so she didnt cover up the outline of her name. She did a great job and it will make another great keepsake -- another page for the scrapbook.. It was great fun!--Heather
Age TO 1: Infant transfers objects from one hand to the other and begins to pick up objects between thumb and finger. This is sometimes called the pincer grasp. The pincer grasp is what they will eventually use to hold a pencil for writing in school.
Age 2: Provide objects for them to open and close: clasp on purses or lids on containers. Use openings on little doll houses or barns to place things in and take them out. Provide opportunities to use various writing tools and experiment with grasp. As the hand gets stronger, the child will grasp the writing tool better. Eventually, the goal would be to hold the large marker between thumb and first two fingers in a type of a tripod grasp.
Age 3: Provide for your child a pair of preschool scissors. (There are left-handed ones available for those who have a dominant left hand.) Provide a construction paper shamrock to snip around the outside so that it looks like fur, just tiny little snips to practice how the scissors open and close. Provide practice this month with large buttons and zippers. Help them to see how they work.
Age 4: On a sheet of typing paper, draw a circle, square, and triangle. Provide room next to each shape so your child can trace it and then draw it next to the original. Perhaps use a green marker for this month… When your child is using his scissors, his thumb may appear on top as he grasps and cuts the paper.
Age 5: Guide your child’s hand to make a few letters as he is playing with writing tools. Pick letters such as the letters in his name, or the names of favorite toys. Write words on recipe cards and tape them next to the object labeled.
**On a sunny warmer day, have fun cleaning up the outdoor toys. Provide a sponge (to squeeze out) and a bucket of warm soapy water to help with spring cleaning of their outdoor toys. All ages can help with this activity.
THE TOOLS FOR MOTHERHOOD GRADUATES have shared some of the activities they have tried with their child in the area of Pre-Writing. Here are a few of the ideas...
Shamrock craft
So, I have been trying to do more crafts and such with the girls and I love having a month with a holiday. So, we’ve finished Valentines day and now we are doing St. Patrick’s Day crafts. There are soo many great ones out there and soo easy too.
In the pictures I’ve included Lexi is doing a shamrock craft. I drew a shamrock on a piece of paper. I let her tear up pieces of green paper and then I spread glue all over the picture and let her put the green pieces of torn paper on it. It was fun and she did a great job tearing paper and had such fun doing it too. So cute. I had Zoe do the same thing only on a smaller scale and she made St. Patty’s day cards for family.
I’ve also recently done a shamrock wreath with Zoe…. Shamrocks she cut out and glued on a paper plate to make a wreath. Again, soo cute! What great things to keep from year to year.
1 & 4 Years Old Play-Doh
The girls love, love, love play-doh and I only wish I loved it more--- what a mess it makes... But they love it so I tolerate it. It does keep them busy and they play pretty well together with the play-doh. So they have cookie cutters, scissors, plates, and bowls... All the necessities for great play-doh fun. They pretent to "eat" the different things they make. It's fun to see them play together nicely and it gives me time to do other things but in the mean time boy do I get "full." : )
Recommendations: Sure- great hand muscle development.
3 Years Old Trace Letters with Glitter Pens
I wrote Kaihtlyn's initials on cardstock and had her trace the letter "K" with her glitter pen. This was a difficult activity for her. She does not have control in her hands to trace and squeeze at the same time. So I helped guide her hand while she squeezed the glue pen; other wise the glitter was ending up in piles. : )
Changes: Possibly use elmers glue trace the letter then have her sprinkle loose glitter on it or let her use the glitter pens freely and let her paint the glitter around.
Recommendations: I would recommend it for older children who may have that hand control better if you want the letter really traced.
1 1/2 Years Old This is one of my favorite activities that Lexi does which is coloring. Of course this is because she does it sooo well by herself. So I simply let her work her little hand muscles by giving her crayons, markers (pip squeaks), colored pencils or pens and I can't forget the paper or coloring books. Though now I am an expert at getting any kind of marks off walls, furniture, applicance and floors. She just scribbles now, but she really enjoys seeing the pictures of people and especially animals in the coloring books. This is my favorite activity to do with her as we are getting dinner ready. I even keep crayons and paper in my purse. She loves to color/draw!--Heather
3 Years Old I sprayed shaving cream all over her highchair tray and hid the letter K in it. Her job was to find it. She found it almost immedicately. Then she just used her hands to fub around and pat the shaving cream. I would take her finger and help her write the letter "K" (for her name) in the shaving cream. She was always eager to mess it up. This was a very fun activity that honetly could be played with for as much time as you want and takes little supervision while the child is in the highchair.--Kahle
4 years Old So as the mail came, I noticed we got the new Toys R Us catalog and I thought it would be a great magazine to cut pictures out of and glue on Zoe's name. So I got a piece of cardstalk and wrote Zoe's name in large outlined letters. I got out the glue and scissors and surprised her with the catalog. I let her cut out pictures of things she liked and then she had to fit them in her name without covering up the shape of the letter. So not only was their hand strengthening going on with the scissors and glue, but some problem solving to see what pictures fit where so she didnt cover up the outline of her name. She did a great job and it will make another great keepsake -- another page for the scrapbook.. It was great fun!--Heather