How to teach a three year old to write

[Homeschoolmommy44]

How did you start teaching your kids to write. My three year old traces but does not trace the right way does it anyway she likes. How do you teach correct letter formation from the start. Any resources you can share would be appreciated.

 

 

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[MomatHWTK]

I didn't mess with writing at that age. I let the kids work on fine motor development but nothing formal. My youngest types, but isn't really into handwriting yet. 

 

ETA: When I did start handwriting with the olders, I used HWOT. 

Edited June 23, 2016 by MomatHWTK

[My3Munchkins]

At that age, I focused on activities to strengthen fine motor skills. We then focused on prewriting strokes such as horizontal lines, vertical lines, circles, crosses, etc. Learning to start a circle at the top and go counter clockwise (for a right handed writer) is an important prewriting skill.

 

We start HWOT at around 4-1/2 or 5. This was the recommendation I was given by a HWOT representative.

[HomeAgain]

We start slowly.  Step one is learning various skills:

 

Pincer grasp - we played the Sneaky Squirrel game, moved puffs, used chopsticks..

Hand strength - playdough, clay, cutting, building

Arm strength/core body - climbing, playing, lots of park time!

Counterclockwise circles- wiping down the table after meals, left to right, in counterclockwise strokes.

 

Okay, that's done. Around age 4 we worked on lettering.  I had a great set of plastic tactile letters that we'd go through when I introduced each sound.  He'd say the sound, tracing the letter with his finger at the same time to build muscle memory.  After a while I introduced a sand box to write the letter in on his own with his finger, and finally a spindle.

 

Toward the end of age 4 we worked more on a chalkboard that had the guide lines imprinted on it.  The chalk slowed his hand enough to give better control, and it was short enough to develop a proper grip.  After he was comfortable with that and making letters reasonably well, we introduced paper along with a stencil from Schoolrite to help develop proper slant.  And finally, age 5 saw the introduction of short copywork leading up to dictation and free writing (at age 6).

I want to point out we did no more than a few minutes of "writing" each day, and by the time we got to the point of actually drawing letters, we were focused on quality, not quantity.  About 3 times making a letter was total.  I'd write the model, pointing out as I went where each part of the letter stopped. How round the belly was, how it went fishing...those things.  Then he would try.  We'd talk it over and point out the control he had and what he should be more observant of in the next one.  Then a second.  Repeat.  Then a third.  Then he'd circle which letter was best and we'd be done.  When we got to the point of copying a single word, he'd pick out the letter he did best.  When he started copying sentences we followed the same format. 

[Guest]

I used just the first page of this free download with all my kids. I suggest printing then either laminating or use a sheet protector for multiple uses.

I also had a large abc chart up that they would copy. I would advise to always correct her grip and strokes now. You will regret it later if you don't. 

 

http://www.soundfoundations.co.uk/en_US/product/handwriting-tracing-sheets/

[Tanaqui]

Unless she came to you and is begging "Mom, teach me to write!" I wouldn't. It's an exercise in frustration. Instead, like everybody else, I'd focus on pre-writing skills. You can find suggested ways to build those by googling "montessori prewriting" or "occupational therapy prewriting". My number one tip? If you happen to be someplace with a coin jar for charity - McDonald's, a gift wrapping station, wherever - give your kid a bunch of coins and have them put them in one by one. You're teaching them about charity and building their pincer grip PLUS keeping them occupied while you order. Edit: Or I guess you could use a piggy bank.

Edited July 26, 2016 by Tanaqui

[freelylearned]

If you really want to teach correct letter formation at three, you can get the Montessori wooden letters that kids trace with their pointer finger. That is probably the only age appropriate way to teach a three year old correct letter formation before their hands aren't ready for writing. HWOT has a preschool prewriting book that you can get, but you should probably get the teacher's guide to go with it for the non workbook activities that are more important than worksheets at that age.