What age did you teach your child to write?

pigpen

ds1 was just over 2 when he wanted to learn so we did.. by 3 he could read and write... enough to be on level 3 reading books when he started nursery at 3 + 3 months.

DS2 was about 7.. and had to be pushed and pushed and pushed.. he would be quite happy to never learn anything!!

DD1 was about 3.. and all the others were willing to learn between 4-6 years.. Children vary so massively in when and what they want to learn listen to what your child is telling you and go with their needs..

We always made a big thing of looking for certain letters on signs and buses and car registration plates etc.. usually their initial first.. then specific letters.. they soon pick it all up if it is a game!!

Gingham_Ribbon

mishkanorman wrote: »

my eldest is nearly 7 and has terrible writing, he has never taken any interest in drawing/colouring/writing and is now suffering for it (we didnt push him as we always believe its best to let them get there in their own time)

if he is showing willing maybe invest in one of those wipeable books so he can trace over the letters ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Write-start-Programme-Perceptual-Handwriting/dp/1855032457 Write from the Start.

I cannot recommend this highly enough. It was given to my son because his fine motor skills are a bit behind his peers and he couldn't write yet.

It goes right back to basics and lets them practice all sorts of movements that lead to easier handwriting.

Better still, my son loves doing it.

For anyone whose child wants to write but finds it difficult, this is the ticket.

dizziblonde

milliebear00001 wrote: »

That's rubbish.

I've never been in a class (especially an EYFS class) where all the children were working at the same level. The differences at age 4-5 are enormous. Believe me, if you can get your child happily mark-making, or writing their name before Reception year, their teacher will be thankful. The key though, as stated, is never to make writing a chore for a very young child.

Schools do have a set format for handwriting, and with good reason. The 'loops and tails', taught in school, that make a young child's writing hard to read, are the precursers to joined handwriting. At 3, 4, 5 though, any writing is fantastic - including the child's own attempts that may seem meaningless to you! If they are keen to write, get them to have a go at forming the letters in the 'correct' way - you probably already do this yourself, but if you're not sure, Google it! Don't be surprised if they struggle and give up though. Writing involves lots of different combined physical and mental skills that many children won't master until 5-6 and beyond.

It's not only rubbish - it's offensive rubbish.

Work on fine motor skills and big markmaking things first - the letters will come in time. Things like circular movements that will form the basis for a, c, d and the like that kids find really tricky - painting with water on the pavement, chalks... things like that.

Picking small things up - or the clothes pegs. Lots of work like that helps pincer grips (bonus points if you get them helping hanging out the washing to dry!)

I wouldn't worry too much about actual "writing" as such - the last thing you want is for a child to learn a really inefficient pencil grip that makes writing painful and messy - you're then set with an utter rod for your own back in trying to un-learn it (my husband never did).

mrcow

dizziblonde wrote: »

It's not only rubbish - it's offensive rubbish.

Work on fine motor skills and big markmaking things first - the letters will come in time. Things like circular movements that will form the basis for a, c, d and the like that kids find really tricky - painting with water on the pavement, chalks... things like that.

The other thing that I found VERY helpful is using dry wipe books.

We had one book that had mazes and dot to dots in. It not only helps with co-ordination but with counting too. Some children like the idea of being able to complete tasks repeatedly as it helps with confidence - and with these books, they can complete them, wipe-off and then do it all again another day.

My books came from the US and have now lasted for three children who have all loved them but there are plenty to choose on Amazon here

eamon

I can't remember if I could read & write before I started primary school but I can remember my mum teaching me how to tell the time and also cursive hand writing before school started doing it. The fact that I was the youngest of four and she had already done similar with my older siblings probably helped.

Surely there must be a way of finding out what the local schools would suggest a parent could do in preparing their child for school.

dizziblonde

mrcow wrote: »

The other thing that I found VERY helpful is using dry wipe books.

We had one book that had mazes and dot to dots in. It not only helps with co-ordination but with counting too. Some children like the idea of being able to complete tasks repeatedly as it helps with confidence - and with these books, they can complete them, wipe-off and then do it all again another day.

My books came from the US and have now lasted for three children who have all loved them but there are plenty to choose on Amazon here

Can also print things out and laminate them if you can't get dry wipe books - takes a bit more elbow grease to get the whiteboard pen off sometimes but it does work.

horse76

I didn't teach my daughter to write either, but she did learn to write her name at nursery. All we done at home was to try and familiarise her with letters and numbers, by putting up a poster in her room and putting magnetic numbers/ letters on the fridge.

We also just let her scribble away with pencils to get her more used to holding one. So when she started school it was the teacher's method she learnt and picked up quickly.

VK-2008

i dont have kids but i believe that i was just 4 when i was writing