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Pre-Writing skills can be thought of as a base and/or prerequisite to handwriting and pencil control. This typically starts with but not limited to, toddler and pre-K/K age groups. These skills are needed prior to learning letters and then line awareness in Kindergarten. The concept of this is to conquer the prerequisite skills needed to be able to form all letters of the alphabet. Starting with the very basics of imitating (watching a demonstration before doing the same) to tracing , then to copying (see a model picture then draw it) simple vertical, horizontal, diagonal lines and shapes in a developmental order.
There are 9 pre-writing strokes used to determine if the child is ready to start writing the uppercase alphabet, this consists of:
There are 9 pre-writing strokes used to determine if the child is ready to start writing the uppercase alphabet, this consists of:
Directional strokes are equally important here. Always have the child start writing from a TOP to BOTTOM and LEFT to RIGHT sequence, this alone will improve legibility later on.
How can I practice at home?
How can I practice at home?
The good news is, the skills needed for pre-writing can all be achieved through PLAY and is necessary in order to develop gross motor skills, fine motor/ visual motor integration, and motor planning skills, which are all foundations of handwriting.
Giving kids fun, and creative opportunities to learn and practice these necessary strokes will be greatly beneficial to their handwriting success and sets them up with a great foundation. Half of the 3 year old population have the fine motor ability to hold small crayons correctly but the correct grasp has to be taught or the result could be an awkward, insufficient pencil grasp. Use of oversized pencils is not beneficial at the preschool age as they have not acquired the strength or skills needed to hold them, therefore, they have to recruit other muscles to hold those heavy things up, resulting in insufficient grasp! Here are some better options:
Broken, shortened crayons (promotes use of proper tripod grasp).
Golf pencils or even a broken pencil.
Along with activities to promote a 3 point grasp and build strength in that web space (space between the index finger and thumb). Here’s a short clip about it: youtu.be/lHgu4cVIuHc
Activities
-Sky-Writing shapes with emphasis on top/bottom/left/right sequences.
-Fine motor tasks with small objects, have child utilize a 2-3 finger grasp to pick up and place into desired containers, e.g., placing colored beads or blocks into matching bin.
-Practice drawing the prewriting shapes in various mediums such as sand, and shaving cream, etc.
-Activities and songs to learn the name of each finger https://youtu.be/bRNDu3O2VQY
-Activities and songs that teach children finger placement https://youtu.be/4AXc76P-168
-Set up stations to practice these skills consistently, this will help the child start to learn the process of doing seated, organized work.
-Activities
-Sky-Writing shapes with emphasis on top/bottom/left/right sequences.
-Fine motor tasks with small objects, have child utilize a 2-3 finger grasp to pick up and place into desired containers, e.g., placing colored beads or blocks into matching bin.
-Practice drawing the prewriting shapes in various mediums such as sand, and shaving cream, etc.
-Activities and songs to learn the name of each finger
-Activities and songs that teach children finger placement up stations to practice these skills consistently, this will help the child start to learn the process of doing seated, organized work.
Working on vertical surfaces helps to build strength in shoulders, arms and hands and forces wrist into a neutral position (which is the proper wrist position for handwriting). Did you know that they actually make dry erase CRAYONS??? These are great to break and use on vertical dry erase boards! Here’s the link: www.amazon.com/Crayola-Dry-Erase-Classroom-Activities-Sharpener/dp/B00FY2OZI2/ref=pd_cp_21_1/136-8748349-6892807?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00FY2OZI2&pd_rd_r=3e2ba89b-348b-4872-a0b2-bcf4dbbcbb45&pd_rd_w=vwcGL&pd_rd_wg=TK451&pf_rd_p=0e5324e1-c848-4872-bbd5-5be6baedf80e&pf_rd_r=9DPPETW4RRTSNRBHR9MR&psc=1&refRID=9DPPETW4RRTSNRBHR9MR
A Parent's Guide to Pencil Grasp .pdfPage updated
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