At what age should I teach my child how to write?

[Homeschooler in Dubai]

Hi everyone,

 

I wanted to know from your experience, when is the best time (age) to start teaching my child how to write?

 

In school they start quite early. With around 6 years the kids here in UAE do A LOT of writing practice.

 

What is your opinion on this?

[Mommyof1]

When I was in school they taught us to write at age 6. Nowadays, it's earlier.

 

My DD is almost 5 and I let her play on a white board and gave her a wipe clean book that teaches to write numbers. She does it if she wants and on her own. She is a very independent child. I make sure she is holding the marker correctly, though.

 

I will start her on writing for school when she is 6 unless she wants to early like she did reading.

 

I don't think a 6 year olds should do a lot of writing though.

Edited September 19, 2017 by Mommyof1

[Stibalfamily]

We started handwriting at 5. And a writing program at 6. 

[Dramorellis]

Once my children started picking up a pencil or crayon on their own and their scribbles started to include some actual letters. That is when I begin teaching them to write their own name and form letters and numbers properly. This has happened somewhere around 3-4 for my children. I don't do anything else until they are closer to 5 and then I include more consistent letter formation practice such as HWoT. Between 5-6 we begin copywork and some light dictation.

[TheAttachedMama]

We actually started learning to write the capital letters at age 4 using Handwriting without Tears pre-k.   (That program uses Chalk/wet sponges on slate, wood pieces to build letters, stamp n see, etc.)   

 

 My rationale was that my child was already trying to copy letters, and I wanted to prevent any bad habits from happening that would slow handwriting in the future.   (I didn't want them "drawing letters" but instead learning the most efficient way of writing them from the beginning so there were no habits to try to break.)    So we practiced the habit of always starting letters at the top, how to cross letters from left to right, etc.    Handwriting without tears also taught ME a lot about preventing common handwriting problems before they develop.   For example, they have the child use VERY small crayons and chalk pieces so they cannot "fist" the utensil, but instead, must hold it using their pincer grasp.   (And typically, they naturally develop a nice grip.)   It also has some nice strategies for preventing d and b reversals, etc.  

[EKS]

Handwriting (printing) at age 5 for five minutes each day.

[MeaganS]

Handwriting at 4, writing program (gentle) around 5.

[Homeschooler in Dubai]

lol handwriting without tears with us at the moment it's completely the opposite. It's handwriting WITH tears. He is 5 turning 6 in May and still cannot write words and sometimes even letters without "dotted lines". The words are basically pre printed and all he needs to do is follow these lines. We are doing this for almost a year now about 3-4 times a week one page but it's not getting any better. When I ask him to write without these pre printed lines he cannot or doesn't want to produce anything close to the letter or word he is supposed to write. He is learning how to write in two very different languages though. English and Arabic. You write Arabic from right to left unlike English left to right. I am not sure what the problem is. I am not using any writing program.

[Homeschooler in Dubai]

I am aiming to do copy work soon but no idea how to get there.

[CadenceSophia]

Once my children started picking up a pencil or crayon on their own and their scribbles started to include some actual letters. That is when I begin teaching them to write their own name and form letters and numbers properly. This has happened somewhere around 3-4 for my children. I don't do anything else until they are closer to 5 and then I include more consistent letter formation practice such as HWoT. Between 5-6 we begin copywork and some light dictation.

This is what I wish we had done. I believe those kids who start to write early need earlier instruction. Children who develop their fine motor skills later can wait a little longer.

It is very difficult to undo bad writing habits that children formed by figuring out how to write on their own.

[...................]

Just make sure they have correct crayon and pencil grip FROM THE START- age 3.5 start correcting it! Make it fun, use rewards, whatever you need to do. They even have little rubber things you can put on pencils to force correct grip.

 

It is nearly impossible to fix later on.

 

Now, remember, there are three correct grips- it

Doesn't have to be exactly like yours but take the time to research what they are and be sure your child is using that.

 

That's all that matters until age 5 or 6 :)

[ExcitedMama]

Mine start working on more controlled movements with crayon at 2 with Kumon books. DS was ready to start practicing letters at 4. He moved pretty efficiently onto doing letters on his own between 4-5. Either it's harder for DD or it's because she didn't get quite as much focused attention as my first born but she finds letters harder. He's a lefty too so I thought he'd have a harder time. She's doing great with Kumon when the lines are there but she struggles with the blanks when she has to do it on her own. I help her start the letters and numbers and remind her what to do. Some she can do on her own now but others are too hard for her. Some she remembers little things that help her, like with making a 9 she knows to draw the circle towards me which helps. I think it's just about consistency and practice. A few minutes a day can really help until it's automatic.

[boscopup]

I try to start around age 5, though one kid wasn't ready until after he turned 6 (which was early in his K year) and another was writing at age 4 (also an early reader). The one at age 4 had much better done motor skills - he could button his own dress shirts at age 3. My other boys couldn't do that until 5. The one that started writing at 6 has been diagnosed with dysgraphia at age 10,unfortunately. He's typing more now.

[boscopup]

Also, you might want to do more prewriting skills... Use a finger in salt, sand, shaving cream, etc. Use "sky writing" (write up in the air, moving the whole arm). That sort of thing. Also, encourage coloring to build up muscles.

[Ellie]

Hi everyone,

 

I wanted to know from your experience, when is the best time (age) to start teaching my child how to write?

 

In school they start quite early. With around 6 years the kids here in UAE do A LOT of writing practice.

 

What is your opinion on this?

 

From birth. :-)

 

As soon as the little one can hold a crayon, he can learn to hold it correctly in his fat little hand. He can learn to draw circles and lines in the proper direction (yes, there is a proper direction). He can learn to write lower-case letters, and then upper-case letters when he needs to know them (if he learns to write lower-case letters first, and upper-case letters when he needs to know them, he won't randomly mix upper- and lower-case letters). Then he'll learn to write his name, and words such as "thank you," so that he can write thank-you notes for birthday gifts, and then to write letters to his grandparents or friends. He can also copy passages from favorite stories or poems or whatnot. And so writing longer things becomes an extension of what he has been doing all along, rather than a Big Deal that has an actual start date. :-)

[desertflower]

I am aiming to do copy work soon but no idea how to get there.

 

I'm not sure I would start copy work soon.  I'd wait until he can at least write on the dotted lines.  Otherwise, I think it would be hard for him to do copy work.

 

We use Writing With Ease for copy work.  It's a good writing program.  This program will teach a child how to narrate and summarize. 

 

I hear boys tend to start handwriting at a later time than girls.  So please keep that in mind. 

 

Hope this helps.

[Homeschooler in Dubai]

Thanks everyone. Is it necessary to use a writing program like the one mentioned "handwriting without tears"? Are there any other you would recommend?

 

I don't know its' just so frustrating when you do the same thing for such a long time and he seems to not make that much progress. I am thinking I am doing sth. wrong. He is not good in reading either even though we finished the Reading Bear program:(  I feel like I am failing in teaching him the most basic (easy) things (reading/writing). I am doubting if I will be capable of teaching him all the other stuff that is to come which is far more complex. A little encouraging words would be most welcome. Otherwise I might end up giving homeschooling up all together. If he is behind school children and even behind other homeschoolers then it pains me to say that it looks like I am failing.

[Homeschooler in Dubai]

I watched the video:  "Susan Wise Bauer explains "Writing With Ease"" sounds really good I think I will give it a try when he is ready. Just not sure if I need sth. else until he gets there.

[Mommyof1]

Don't give up. He might not be ready yet. Those thing are developmental skills.

 

ElizabethB would be a great person to talk to about reading and MIGHT have suggestions about writing.

 

I haven't used any writing curriculum yet.

[desertflower]

We use Zaner-Bloser for handwriting.  https://www.zaner-bloser.com/

 

There is something called Explode the Code.  I think that combines handwriting and phonics.  I could be wrong though.  I've always thought that would be effective. 

 

He is young, so I wouldn't worry yet.  I'd wait and see another year.  Also look out for other things.  Like if his reading doesn't improve.  I would check with a doctor then. 

 

For some kids, learning how to read at this age can go slow, but then bam! They can read chapter books at 8. 

 

The beauty of homeschooling is that I don't want to compare my children to how others are doing in public school.  I believe that my children will eventually get there as long as we persist and of course there's isn't any learning disabilities.

 

Hope this helps.

[Homeschooler in Dubai]

thanks for your encouraging words exactly what I needed :thumbup1:  you are also right that comparing your children doesn't make me feel any better. The opposite.

[Mommyof1]

Alphablocks is a phonics series out of the U.K. it's on Youtube. The letters make there sounds and when the letters hold hands they sound out the word. Each episode is about 5 minutes. It's really cute.

 

Just something fun but educational.

[Homeschooler in Dubai]

Just checked it out it's really cool thank you

[Mommyof1]

Your Welcome!

[mytwomonkeys]

I focused on handwriting and reading K-2 and a writing program started in 3rd.

 

 

ETA- sorry I think you are just asking about learning to write letters and such. I'd say they learned to write their names at 3 or 4. We used Handwriting without Tears when they were about 5.

Edited September 20, 2017 by mytwomonkeys

[Ausmumof3]

I watched the video: "Susan Wise Bauer explains "Writing With Ease"" sounds really good I think I will give it a try when he is ready. Just not sure if I need sth. else until he gets there.

Writing with ease is good for learning spelling etc but you might find an actual handwriting program that focuses on letter formation is helpful.

[fralala]

In kindergarten, letter reversals seem very common and developmentally normal. This was the rational, back when I was in school, of starting learning handwriting in grade 1.

 

My sister, a k teacher, rues the earlier emphasis on handwriting. She feels this is akin to working very, very hard to teach a group of 9 month olds to walk, when some of them haven't even started crawling yet. She would like to see more time spent on development of fine and gross motor skills through other activities.

 

My kindergartener currently spends a lot of time coloring, stickering, cutting, doing mazes, and drawing. I have her also spend about 1 or 2 minutes forming a letter each day. We will slowly work through the alphabet this way. FWIW, my third grader (of the super messy don't-care handwriting) recently decided she wants us to be able to read the stories she writes, and voila! Her handwriting has begun to look absolutely neat and lovely. Once she had the capability to write legibly, consistently, for her, it was just a matter of being able to see the point of it all.

 

This isn't to say you shouldn't look into dysgraphia or dyslexia if you're really concerned that your son isn't meeting reasonable expectations for his age, but that the school's expectations aren't necessarily reasonable or developmentally appropriate-- according, at least, to my k teacher insider.

[eternallytired]

Thanks everyone. Is it necessary to use a writing program like the one mentioned "handwriting without tears"? Are there any other you would recommend?

 

I don't know its' just so frustrating when you do the same thing for such a long time and he seems to not make that much progress. I am thinking I am doing sth. wrong. He is not good in reading either even though we finished the Reading Bear program:(  I feel like I am failing in teaching him the most basic (easy) things (reading/writing). I am doubting if I will be capable of teaching him all the other stuff that is to come which is far more complex. A little encouraging words would be most welcome. Otherwise I might end up giving homeschooling up all together. If he is behind school children and even behind other homeschoolers then it pains me to say that it looks like I am failing.

 

While it may just be that he's not ready yet, I'd also suggest getting his eyes checked if you haven't already done so.  If there is a vision problem, he will not physically be able to improve.  It may be that he needs glasses, or it may be that the eyes have difficulty working together or staying focused on one place.  Both my husband and one of my kids have perfect eyesight, but they needed vision therapy to get the eyes to both team/track well; with my son, his reading and writing skills took off after six weeks of silly eye games (some of which I blogged, in case anyone else needs them).

 

[Mom22ns]

How old is your child? six? Boys do tend to develop small motor skills later, so I'm guessing it isn't time to panic yet. If he is struggling to recall what you are teaching, he might not be ready, but it might also mean you'd benefit from a program like handwriting without tears that could give you a plan of action and help you progress. Handwriting programs aren't necessary in general, but they can be helpful. If you feel like he is falling behind (and it is probably far too soon to really be concerned about that) then grab HWOT or another handwriting specific program and try using their instructional method and see if it helps. If he is still not catching on, come back and ask again. :)

[Finlandia]

It sounds like you are on the right track for a 5 year old boy. If he can't do a whole page at one time yet that's ok. You may need to back up and have the writing lesson be only 5 minutes and focus on writing a single letter correctly. Or maybe even drop formal handwriting lessons altogether for a few months and instead do more fun activities that help develop fine motor skills - coloring, cutting, stickers, stuff like that. Sometimes with developmental skills simply giving the child a little bit more time is the best approach.

 

As you mentioned, Arabic and English are written very differently, so the mechanics of writing that he is learning are very different. Since he is learning more than one way to write, and more than one alphabet, his progress will likely be slower than if he were only learning a single language. That will be true for the other areas of language arts too: phonics, reading, spelling, etc. All of that might take longer, especially in the early stages, if he is learning them in more than one language. Hang in there!

[lllll]

nm 

 

Edited September 25, 2017 by lllllll

[Heathermomster]

HWT is good because it provides explicit instruction of letter formation.

 

After about 6 months of kindergarten, my DD was seriously pushing back with handwriting. I took her to an OT and discovered that she had weak pincer/core strength, motor planning issues, and was ambidextrous. DD wound up working with an OT for one month and a year later, a ped PT for an additional 4 weeks.

 

She learned to print using the HWT ipad app. She then used an LOE whiteboard and practiced print by copying words and phrases. I purchased software called StartWrite and printed up copywork sheets for DD using the basic manuscript font and later New American Cursive. We resorted to cursive because it was more legible.

 

During the entire process, we played with pencil grips, font size, and a slant board. She used a white board mainly during 1st-2nd grades, and I scribed for her. I used my phone to take pictures of her work.

 

DD is 4th grade now, and her cursive is good. She achieved writing fluency with cursive by late 3rd grade. If DD did not start writing well by mid-4th grade, it was my intention to get her tested for dysgraphia and teach her to type.

 

If your child still struggles by spring, maybe get him evaluated by an OT. Be patient with him. Set aside maybe 10 minutes for lettering and then scribe for him the remainder of the day. He could practice his lettering using shaving cream, sand, and by making large arm movements with his eyes closed.

Edited September 21, 2017 by Heathermomster

[Bluegoat]

I think it depends on the coordination of the child.  Kids at that age can vary quite a bit.

 

When they are small, like 6, and even up to 8 or 9, often less is more.  Much better to really pay attention and write a few letters than write a lot badly.  I'd start with only about 5 min at the beginning, and work up to 10 - and it might stay there a while.

 

It really takes time to develop the physical skills and stamina.  For kids struggling with this, things like physical games and tasks will really help, more than spending too much time on writing. Colouring can help too.  

[Heathermomster]

Wheelbarrow walking is great for strengthening hands and core.

[Homeschooler in Dubai]

Thanks everyone I will try out some of the tips mentioned :thumbup:

[HS Mom in NC]

Thanks everyone. Is it necessary to use a writing program like the one mentioned "handwriting without tears"? Are there any other you would recommend?

 

I don't know its' just so frustrating when you do the same thing for such a long time and he seems to not make that much progress. I am thinking I am doing sth. wrong. He is not good in reading either even though we finished the Reading Bear program:(  I feel like I am failing in teaching him the most basic (easy) things (reading/writing). I am doubting if I will be capable of teaching him all the other stuff that is to come which is far more complex. A little encouraging words would be most welcome. Otherwise I might end up giving homeschooling up all together. If he is behind school children and even behind other homeschoolers then it pains me to say that it looks like I am failing.

 

You should probably specify what you mean by writing when you post. 

 

Handwriting-forming letters neatly

Writing-composing thoughts into sentences

 

For handwriting I recommend Getty-Dubay because the transition from printing to italic script (cursive)  is so simple.  Almost every stroke for each letter the same in print and cursive with an added connecting stroke for cursive.  I had no intention of reteaching writing strokes when it was time for cursive. I also wanted the most legible and readable cursive. I really don't like antique cursive at all because of all the frills, froof and loopty loops that clutter up the writing. With Getty-Dubay Italic Script a kid can later add some frills if they like or they can switch easily to calligraphy, so it's a good foundation for a variations later on.

 

Reading readiness varies dramatically among children.  My oldest learned to read fluently like an adult by age 5. My middle wasn't ready to start learning to read until almost 8 years old.  She could read like an adult by age 11.  Youngest was ready to start learning to read by age 6.  She's 12 and doesn't quite read like an adult yet. If you want to use real books to teach reading Homestart in Reading is a useful short book that helps you understand how to teach phonics with real books.  I did that with older two.  For a prepared curriculum I like Phonics Pathways and Reading Pathways.  They're incredibly efficient and thorough.  For people bothered by the amount of text on the page, simply use a bank sheet of paper to cover up some of the text.

 

First Language Lessons is a good option to teach narration and copywork. English Lessons Through Literature is another option that include memorization, narration, copywork, dictation and grammar in each lesson.  It's a gentle CM apporach.