One of the most important ways you can help prepare your child for school, in addition to encouraging independence, is to help them to get ready to write. Children should be encouraged to develop the strength and control in their hands and fingers, as well as their hand-eye co-ordination.
There are lots of fun and easy activities you can try at home to help your child get ready to learn to write. These activities are also helpful for building co-ordination, strength, and control in children who are beginning to learn to write already.
1. Painting and drawing
Give your child lots of opportunities to draw and paint. Let them experiment with lots of different materials – paint brushes with a range of widths, pencils, crayons, chalks and finger paint. You could try playing music when they paint and draw as this can help to create a relaxing environment.
2. Threading beads or pasta
Threading beads, macaroni or cotton reels on wool or string can help with eye-hand co-ordination and control.
3. Pouring liquids and spooning flour
Let them pour liquids from one container to another or, alternatively, spoon flour into jars and bottles to develop eye-hand co-ordination and control.
4. Cut and paste
Using scissors is a useful skill and is a great way to develop co-ordination, control and build strength. Many children find scissors tricky to master so they need lots of practice.
Make paper chains together or ask them to find particular photos in magazines and catalogues (by colour or other categories) to cut out and then stick them into their own pictures.
5. Join the dots
Joining the dots and drawing paths through simple mazes are not only fun but are a great way to develop eye-hand coordination and pen control.
More from Oxford Owl
Books
Please note: all book links lead to more information on Amazon.co.uk
Starting to Write
Age 3–4
This activity book will help your child to progress while having fun so they will quickly learn to develop pencil control and the correct letter formation.
Progress with Oxford Age 3–4 activity books have been created to develop early numeracy and literacy skills, as taught in pre-school. Each activity book includes a unique character, stickers and a progress chart to capture how much children have learned.
Starting to Write Letters
Age 4–5
This activity book will help your child to progress with writing while having fun so they will quickly learn the correct formation of letters, covering letter families that have similar formations.
Progress with Oxford Age 4–5 activity books have been created to develop core maths and literacy skills, as taught in school. Each activity book includes a unique character, stickers and a progress chart to capture how much children have learned.
Starting to Write Words
Age 4–5
This activity book will help your child to progress with their writing skills. Quickly, and with the guidance of a lively character, young readers will use their phonic knowledge to write words with minimal support. Handy tips and clues will help them learn how to write common irregular words.
