Parents with younger kids are well familiar with the lined handwriting paper. This paper is the perfect learning tool for primary students and children who have some control of their motor skills, but preschoolers might struggle with writing on the lined paper.
Since preschoolers aren’t well suited for the lined handwriting papers, parents and guardians of young students might be at a loss for how to effectively guide their children through learning and perfecting their handwriting.
Read through this guide for some of the most effective ways – and the best resources to use – to help preschoolers learn handwriting.
1. Start with Big Spaces
Preschoolers function better in wider, open spaces. Most young children are not adept at writing on lined papers, no matter how big or wide the lines are. Sometimes, smaller spaces act as a learning barrier for younger kids.
Some bigger spaces your child can learn to write on are:
- Dry erase boards: These are great for teaching children to write because your child has ample space to draw all the weird lines and squiggles they enjoy drawing, and you can easily clean up after. If you buy magnetic dry erase boards, your children can also have fun learning how to identify letters and spell words with magnetic letters.
- Writing on the mirror: Kids will enjoy writing on vertical surfaces, and it’s a great way to help them develop the strength and motor skills they will need for writing. Writing in big letters is the best way your child will understand the lines, circles and curve that make up the different letters.
- Bigger writing papers: If your child shows signs of being ready to write on paper, there is no reason to hold them back. You can find larger handwriting sheets in stores, or you can find writing worksheets pdf for kindergarten online.
2. Build Their Fine Motor Muscles
Young children need to develop the muscles they need to enable easy and proper handwriting. It is important that you help them develop their motor skills at this age. The key here is to make the exercises fun and simple, and your kids won’t even realize they are doing any work. Here are some exercises your child can do:
- Play with toys that aid fine motor skills. Toys like stacking pegs and legos are kid favorites, and are also perfect for building fine motor skills.
- Playdough.
- Small manipulatives
- Catching bugs and transferring them into a bowl with scoops, tweezers and tongs.
3. Teach your Kids with Letter Play
While your kids learn to write, it might be difficult for them to remember the letters of the alphabet, and how to write them properly. This is why you should incorporate learning the letters in small and meaningful ways. You can use writing worksheets pdf for kindergarten, visualize letters by playing fun games with your kids, or use age-appropriate flash cards.
4. Encourage Proper Grip
Sometimes, children hold the pencil the correct way the first time they pick it up, and other times, you will have to teach them the correct way to hold writing utensils. If your kids take a little longer in holding their pencils and crayons the correct way, encourage them with positive talk and gentle corrections. Some children are more determined to grip their writing utensils in the way that it pleases them, and you should remember that writing at this age is more about exploring and learning in a fun way.
Resources you can use to encourage proper pencil grip in your children are:
- Skinny markers
- Skinny and short crayons
- Painting with thin brushes