One of the best ways to get children started with early writing is to interest them in drawing. I have taught children between the ages of three to five over the last 12 years, and in that time I have seen the massive benefits that introducing children to drawing through games can have. In this …
Learning to write is a huge process that takes many years. There are distinct stages that children go through, and there are many strategies to help them on the way. One of the best of these in the early days are pre-writing patterns. These cover the whole stage of progress in between beginning to mark-make …
When a child has learned to write their name this can seem like a huge milestone. It is also very useful practically, particularly in school or nursery, so they can sign their own work and not get it mixed up with someone else’s by mistake. But the process of name writing can be quite a …
Your pre-schooler hates writing? Honestly, this is completely natural, and most researchers would even say normal. At this age many children are not ready physically to attempt mark-making, and starting them too quickly can sometimes do more harm than good. Having said this, there are some things you can do to speed along the process …
Developing fine motor skills in children is incredibly important. Everyone understands the impact this will have on early writing, but this is only a tiny portion of the full picture. Fine motor skills are a central part of our lives. By developing their fine motor control, children are able to access other things to become …
Lots of teachers and parents wonder about which type of writing equipment is best for preschool-aged children. This is a unique stage of life, and therefore they should probably be using tools that are tailored for them. A common question is, should pre-schoolers use fat pencils? Yes, pre-schoolers should use fat pencils. They will suit …
Pretty much everyone who works in early childhood education, and also many parents, are aware of the main difference between fine and gross motor skills; but did you realize there are many more differences between the two than meet the eye? Understanding these differences will help you appreciate many things, including the ways boys and …
Children go through a long transition from making marks to later writing in sentences. How to help them through this period will go a long way in helping them enjoy writing, and find success. But there are so many questions, such as – should pre-schoolers write on lined paper? Most experts agree that pre-schoolers should …
If you see children being engaged in loose parts play, you can see for yourself many of the obvious benefits. Children get really involved, much more often than in adult-led activities. They seem to be having fun, and surely learning at the same time. But have you ever wondered, what are the benefits of loose …
On the phonics course that I run, one of the favourite activities has always been using washing lines to teach phonics. Many children love washing lines, and the practitioners like them too. They are easy to create and inspire lots of valuable learning. Using washing lines in general is great for children. It develops their …