Developing early writing skills....finger gym

To  be able to make marks effectively, children need to be able to develop their fine motor skills.  This means developing the muscles in the fingers and the hands. 

Children need lots of different opportunities to do this and we can be too quick sometimes to give them pencils and crayons as they need lots of practice with the different opportunities we can offer them to develop the skills needed to hold them. 

Writing should be fun and not a chore.  Its really important that children see us using lots of different opportunities to write as we are living in a very technological age we don't seem to do this as much as we used to.....lots of tapping on screens instead which is just using one finger.

The development of the muscles helps with learning how to use scissors too as well as much more.

Finger gym activities are activities to help develop fine motor skills, making fingers and hands stronger. Here are some ideas to try:

https://apreschoolteacher.wordpress.com/2015/04/22/finger-gym-threading/

How fab and cheap is this idea...... Threading cheerios on string to make bracelets etc.  I have made these before with the families I work with but did it a little unhealthily as we used red liquorice laces to make them.

http://tishylishy.co.uk/finger-gym

Another really simple activity using pom poms.  Pop on over to find out more.

http://www.abcdoes.com/abc-does-a-blog/2013/09/dough-gym-week-funky-fingers/

Non messy mark making

Threading is a really good activity to develop these skills.  You can use wooden beads, buttons or threading cards....

Making marks: The beginnings of writing

• Talk about and let them see you do ordinary writing tasks such as: making a shopping list or writing a birthday card and get them involved.
• Ask them to read their writing to you
• Provide a variety of writing ,materials such as: chalks, crayons, paint and brushes, pencils, felt tips etc
• Make some home made play dough (see older post).  Make marks on it or make shapes
• Make patterns together
• Make a book or play shop or post office
• Give them lots of paper, even old wallpaper and let them make squiggles.  Praise them when they do
• Write with water and washing up bottles, paint rollers, paint brushes - outside
• Let them make mistakes!  It's all part of learning

The importance of mark making....part 2

When children are making marks they are trying out new things to see what happens.  The marks children make slowly begin to have meaning to them and you will be able to see this by listening to what they say when they are involved in their mark making.

Through making marks, children are developing hand - eye coordination and muscle control, both of which are needed for writing to progress at a later stage.

Remember to encourage and praise your child.  You will be developing their sense of worth and self esteem.   This pre- writing stage is hugely enjoyable and rewarding for children and should not be rushed in an effort to get a child to hold a pencil and write letters.  Let them enjoy it and when they are ready the rest will follow!

The importance of mark making....part 1

Mark making is as simple as it sounds - children making random marks using different tools and / or materials.  It is an important stage of development and is a crucial early stage in writing.

Children who have had plenty of mark making opportunities tend to be more confident writers when they are older.

It is important to allow the free expression of 'scribbling' as it is a crucial stage to their development.  If they are pushed to learn how to draw or write correctly, the learning [process can be disrupted.

Make mark making fun and try and provide plenty of opportunities.  It doesn't have to be paper and crayon all the time.  Children love to experiment with blackboards, chalks, whiteboards and markers, different types of paper and anything they can make marks with using their fingers, hands or other tools.

Ideas to try:

Play dough is an excellent tool for mark making, especially home made.  You can find a simple recipe in a precious post.

 Wet and dry sand have different properties to mark make.

Gloop: corn flour mixed with water.  One of the best experiences ever.

Tooth paste: A writing implement ready to go.  (See previous post)

Glue: PVA runny glue makes brilliant marks on black card when it runs from fingers or brushes and dries bumpy too.

Shaving foam: Brilliant for mark making and for trying to sculpt into snowmen.

Chocolate drinking powder - sensory mud: (drinking chocolate mixed with water - See previous post)

Use your imagination and raid your food cupboards, also please be careful with any allergies children may have.