Pre-Writing Skills
Pre-Writing is an important step that often is overlooked. The ability to copy forms and letters is usually a gradual development.
This is a common order of development:
To have a young child practice writing letters before she/he has mastered most of the prewriting strokes may not be beneficial. For example, the ability to make single angled lines is needed to make letter A. If the skill is not developed the first line of the A will probably be straight.
Pre-Writing Activities:
Coloring is a fun and often non-threatening activity that promotes hand development and coordination.
Drawing can be used to develop awareness of shapes and forms. For example, drawing pictures of a person with body parts attached correctly, i.e., arms and legs aligned to a trunk is an excellent task that will work on many skills. The first step may be to have the child add simple details to a circle (a happy face). Manipulative to make a person can be used for further practice.
Examples of a few activities that can improve hand strength and hand skills are the following:
-Use playdoh and have the child roll out a snake, cut the playdoh with a pair of scissors or a dull plastic knife. . Have the child use the playdoh snake to make different shapes such as a circle, a cross, a square, a face etc.
-Use tweezers, tongs or clothespins to pick up small objects.
-Use spray bottles to clean off a table.
This is a common order of development:
To have a young child practice writing letters before she/he has mastered most of the prewriting strokes may not be beneficial. For example, the ability to make single angled lines is needed to make letter A. If the skill is not developed the first line of the A will probably be straight.
Pre-Writing Activities:
Coloring is a fun and often non-threatening activity that promotes hand development and coordination.
Drawing can be used to develop awareness of shapes and forms. For example, drawing pictures of a person with body parts attached correctly, i.e., arms and legs aligned to a trunk is an excellent task that will work on many skills. The first step may be to have the child add simple details to a circle (a happy face). Manipulative to make a person can be used for further practice.
Examples of a few activities that can improve hand strength and hand skills are the following:
-Use playdoh and have the child roll out a snake, cut the playdoh with a pair of scissors or a dull plastic knife. . Have the child use the playdoh snake to make different shapes such as a circle, a cross, a square, a face etc.
-Use tweezers, tongs or clothespins to pick up small objects.
-Use spray bottles to clean off a table.