Pre-schoolers are ever- enthusiastic, super- energetic and highly- curious bunch of kids. They are in the process of discovering themselves and the world around them. They are rapidly building their self –concept. Given this scenario, it is highly important that we present to them enough opportunities where they learn things that are appropriate to their age and skill levels.
Why hasn’t my child started writing?
Writing is a complex act. It involves immense co-ordination between the brain, the eyes, the arm and the fingers. As parents, we take the act of writing for granted because years of practice has made us experts in it. But children, especially pre-schoolers are still not prepared for it.
Parents, if you review your own schooling system, we were never initiated into the act of writing so soon. It is only recently that we expect our children to perform certain acts sooner than they are ready for it and writing tops the chart in this competitive spirit of parents.
When we were little, we spent hours playing in mud or playing with a ball. We made toys with clay and merely engaged in random scribbling. We doodled on different surfaces, even walls without being shouted at! We played with tiny marbles and helped remove tiny stones from grains and rice that our mothers cleaned every day- All these activities contribute to what we now know as- “Writing Readiness”
Why is Writing – readiness important?
Forcing a child to write sooner than the child is ready for the act is not only harmful but beats the child’s self -confidence. Writing involves fine – motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Can you imagine being asked to hold a pencil between your toes and being asked to write something? Doesn’t it sound difficult, almost impossible? That is how a child feels if he or she is asked to write without preparing him or her for the complex process.
We, at Little Aryans, the best playgroup in Dombivali and Ambernath, prepare our children for the complex act of writing by decoding and dividing it into various activities which are a part of our daily schedule. This ensures that the child is comfortable and is confident to hold a pencil or a crayon before he or she actually starts writing.
Before writing, comes reading and before reading comes listening. Therefore, Little Aryans, the best playgroup in Kalyan, ensures that a child has mastered the act of listening, can recognise letters and learns letter formation before he or she starts writing.
Activities for promoting writing –readiness-
Below are some examples of fun activities that are incorporated in Little Aryans Pre-K to instil writing – readiness-
- Writing with clay-
- Children are asked to write alphabets on a flattened piece of clay. Writing on surfaces like clay strengthens the arm.
- Tracing Letter with clay on a Laminated Card- This activity promotes letter- recognition and letter formation.
- Lacing Activities-
- Threading beads with Shoe laces encourages eye-hand coordination
- Tying shoe laces help children gain control over their fine- muscles
- Threading pasta with ribbons is an interesting activity that is enjoyed by children and makes them ready for writing
- Water Play-
- Transferring alphabets from one bowl to another helps them in recognising letters and encourages eye-hand coordination.
- Filling up a bin with different objects such as letters, numbers, sea creatures and letting your child explore is fun as well as helpful for your child.
- Pattern Activities-
- Making patterns such as Alphabets, Numbers using stones or beads builds fine motor skills.
- Picking up beads with Tweezers also strengthens fine motor skills.
- Molding pipe cleaners into alphabets and numbers engages the child positively.
- Sand/ Rice Trays-
- Tracing patterns in a tray filled with sand or rice grains using fingers, sticks or a brush is an engaging sensory play.
- Tracing patterns in a tray filled with sand or rice grains using fingers, sticks or a brush is an engaging sensory play.
- Sensory Bags, Maze Trays and Bubble Wrap writing activities are loads of fun and sharpen the child’s senses.
- Writing with chalk on a slate is an age-old method of promoting writing- readiness
- Paper Crumbling, tearing and paper twisting make a child’s arm muscles strong.
- Our writing worksheets present a range of pattern writing practise with the help fo brushes, crayons, pencils, pompoms etc.
Hence, parents, we hope you understand the concept of writing readiness and slowly but surely you will see your child learning and enjoying the act of writing.