Do you find that your preschooler is reluctant to use a pencil to write? Sometimes we have to take a step backwards and enjoy the fun of writing and playing with writing before we get to the more serious writing with a pencil.
I have boys and considering recent evidence about how boys writing lags behind girls I wanted to share what fun we’ve been having with writing. Writing has to be fun for the preschooler or many will just give up. The skills needed to master holding the pencil correctly, angle of the pencil and paper, sitting position then one to one correspondence of looking at the shape then making that same shape on the paper in front I liken to a marathon. It’s not a sprint so why did I think that at 3 I could put paper and pencil in front of my 3 year old and expect with a few pointers that they would soon get the hang of it.
Training for the marathon
1. Give them plenty of opportunities to mark make. Notice mark make and not draw or write. That’s for us. It opens up the material and the instrument to use rather than narrowing it all down.
2. Start them young with mark making. This is not to say we expect drilling, intensive lessons or trying to get children to be working before their appropriate age. Instead, let them have experiences of making marks from as soon as they can sit up.
Not that I have any experience, I hear that there is a point when long distance running where you feel like you can’t go on and you have to dig deeper to push through it and finish. Those reserves would come from knowing you can do it because you’ve practiced and run many times. You’ve had good experiences and know you can do it. You can find it because you’ve found it before.
The same with the preschooler.
When mastering this new and complicated skill of writing they will hit a wall. Having had good experiences and fun playful experiences maybe what gets them through to persevering with the task rather than giving up. Once they’ve dug their heels in and decided they can’t write or it’s too hard it’s pretty difficult to get them going again. There’s got to be fun in it. Some children may need more fun than others.
Don’t be discouraged
You have dot to dot books, trace the letter sheets, ergonomic pencils and paper but your preschooler isn’t interested in writing for any length of time. Don’t give up. Take a step back and allow them to play with writing and have fun with it.
Putting it another way. I love reading and regularly have a few books on the go. A few that challenge my mind; some that are an easy read and one that is fluff. Fluff isn’t a waste of time for me. It’s a bit of fun and makes me feel good. Good emotions encourage me to tackle the harder things.
When preschoolers are learning to write don’t forget the ‘easy read and the fluff’. It gets them through some days and encourages them to persevere with the writing when it’s not fun and they hit that wall.
Writing with glue is one easy and fun way we play with writing and letter formation. I wrote about letters and glue before. Today we looked a numbers and glue. We were counting things and had to write a birthday card where a friend was 4. The MO likes numbers because ..”..they aren’t long.” He’s also working on letters in his name not in random order. So his fun right now is numbers because he can do lots or a little and they stand by themselves. ( I guess, what he’s saying is I can’t try and make him write words- like his name)
Last time we used cardboard.
Today we used post it notes.
The post its didn’t stick for long. I was hoping to stick them somewhere to take down as we needed them. Maybe it was the quality of the post it ( generic brand I used) or the weight of the glue on the paper? Who knows? Also as they are drying they lift up ( They are post its) so take care that the glue doesn’t run. We keep them in an envelope now. Having them individually like this will lead to lots of games and fun with numbers. Theses dried clear and you could see the number I had drawn through in marker pen. An alternative is for them to colour on top of the glue, once dry.
As always the glue squirting was a big hit. As was the tracing of the dried glue. He’ll pick the glue numbers and play with the numbers. He traces his letters. Without me sticking it in front of him to do.
Learning and fun go together.
We just have to find ways of doing that for our child in a way that motivates and works for them.
Have you listened, I mean really listened, to the long and convoluted stories our preschoolers tell?
You know the ones that seem to go on forever and sometimes, it seems optional to have an end point? The MO has a lot of these and I don’t think he’s alone. They tell the most fascinating stories and yarns to be spun I think. All this hot air storytelling has had us in stitches and seems to be a waste because we don’t remember them except to tell family or friends who happen to call that day. Then poof! That story is gone. This week we tried to change that.
First we made puppets. We looked at the boxes and decided to make two animals. See slideshow below. ( If you’re reading this through a feed reader or email then you’ll have to see the slideshow at the site)
Second I asked the MO who they were and tell me their story. I wrote the jist of it down. Yes he did go off at tangents, frequently. When I retold the story I was told off edited. The final version had a lot more additions. This was the first draft.
Sounds very much like the Oliver Jeffers books ” Lost and Found” and “The Way Back Home“…………curiously we’ve not read in a while. (Who said children don’t remember stories?)
Third gather props and act out the show as I read.
We had the best fun doing this activity together. He was able to put on his “show” story. He’s already dreaming up more adventures.
Now we have a copy of this story and the first of many I hope.
Treasure basket play is used in many different ways. There are many who say if you deviate from the Elinor Goldschmied’s method then it is not a true Treasure Basket and shouldn’t be called one. I like to hold to the principles but feel that a lot can be achieved if you change things to fit your lifestyle.
Treasure baskets are a great play activity for sitting to approximately 12months olds. However towards that year mark they like to start throwing the objects, well mine certainly did. Parents also get concern that they are not just mouthing but chewing and being destructive with these objects and start putting them away.
What to do?
Changing the type of items available may be a better choice.
Perhaps try a theme instead of an eclectic mix.
If they like biting: metal items
If they like sound: musical items ( bought or homemade)
If they like touch: fabrics, cardboard, sandpaper
Adapt the treasure basket from being a sitting independent basket to a more collaborative basket, at times. To me it is a treasure basket because of all the treasure and goodies inside but to many others not.
Try Containers
After 12months my LO and still at 18m0nths has a fascination with containers. We collect empty food containers, for a time as well as collect containers when they are on sale. There is something about pushing stuff inside and pulling stuff out that he can’t get enough of. Having a collection of ever changing containers really keeps him entertained and totally engaged. He’s is totally learning while he is playing.
The difference is that this is deliberate play. I gathered the materials and let him have at it. Rather than he found them himself and got to play with them for a time before I took them from him. Both ways maybe playing but one way gives him more opportunities to exercise his curiosity and wear his scientists coat. The other way is a lot more stressful and emotionally charged.
The best thing about Treasure Baskets is how you can find so many delights in your own home without having to go and buy anything extra. You just have to put on your “Treasure Basket glasses” on. Meaning, looking at your house, cupboards, pantry, bathroom etc always with an eye to use.
Empty wipes box containers and tissue boxes. I can’t tell you how much fun we’ve had with them. Using new boxes is fine and transferring tissues and wipes to zipper bags also works.
You child maybe past the 12month stage but don’t give up on the Treasure Basket idea. There are so many things to be discovered in a basket…………..figures, stories, games and lots of imagination and discovery.
We’ve been having fun with bottles recently with both of the little ones. More to follow with the LO another time.
Here’s a fun activity I have been hoping to try for a long time.
Gather together coloured rice and strong plastic letters that fit inside of a bottle.
It’s easier than you think.
Colour rice with alcohol from the Pharmacy and food colouring.
Allow to dry in a ventilated room
Repeat with additional colours.
The MO was excited to add the colouring.
Once fully dry, fill the bottle 1/4 full then add a bunch of letters.
Repeat until all the alphabet is in and all the rice is inside as well. We checked as we went along to get everything in.
The MO is unlikely to undo the top of the bottle but to be sure, we taped it down with parcel tape although a glue gun would probably work. I like the physical reminder. His friends all ask, “Why is this tape here?” as they try and take it off.
Uses:
He tries to find his name.
Plays alone and with a friend( or mommy)
Easily carried to the car, dropped into the stroller, taken while at the Drs. ( again!)
Why we like it?
He’s proud of what he’s help make. Everyone that has come to the house recently has seen it!
He’s determined to find some letters that he can’t see.
His brother and he both try and do the same thing and find lost letters.
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” and “
“…………curiously we’ve not read in a while. (Who said children don’t remember stories?)
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