4yr old daughter got b'day cards signed by her friends - I'm worried that she can't..

Mics_chick

...write her name yet but should I be???

She doesn't seem to have any interest in learning numbers and letters but she can count into the teens if you point at things you want her to count

I don't want to force her or push it down her throat but I'd like to gently encourage at least an interest in them... Is this wrong???

Anyone feel the same way or been in a similar situation coz I love some advice MC

Curious_George_2

I used to get my daughter to sign things by writing her name out in cards
but in little faint dots, and she had to join them up in pen

worked every time

SPARKY16

My daughter could write her name and even read a few words by the time she was 3 she was much more advanced than my son who would not entertain writing he wouldnt even hold a pencil until he went to full time school and then he sailed through learning everything very quickly so please dont worry all chiidren learn at different speeds i was worried when i went to the school they would tell me he would need special lessons

flis21

All children develop at different rates. If she sees that you are worried she will get worried and may feel pressured. I assume she is starting school in September and it can be really amazing to see how quickly children develop in the first year of school.

In the nursery I work at we have some 4 years olds who can write their own name and other words and count to 30, others have trouble even writing the first letter of their name and struggle with numbers in the teens. All I am saying is don't worry, she will get their in her own time.

Becles

All children are different. My youngest son has always struggled with writing. He was late starting compared to my oldest son. He's 8 now and sometimes I cannot read what he has written. Although we do plenty practise, he still struggles. He's good at the content though and will do a good piece of writing on a PC.

Best thing to do is just practise little and often when your daughter is in the right mood, but don't force it or make it seem like a chore. Loads of praise helps too.

arthur_dent_2

My 5 year old was a very quick and forward learner and could write her name early, however my youngest (nearly 4 ) shows no interest whatsoever. Each child will do it their own way at their own pace.

scubaleopard

I agree with all the replies on here. Whatever you do dont get stressed-- your little one will see her first attempts at new tasks as a frightening one and 1 which makes Mummy anxious. All children develop at a different rate and follow different learning paths. She is probably miles further on maybe with physical skills than her playmates.

She may have a better imagination.

She may play really well independently.

She may loving at books on her own and with you, making up stories from the pictures.

It may be a good idea to play some games with materials to help with name writing.

This is just a few ideas.
Children find small motor control activities the hardest so start with things like

A washing up bottle filled with water and you chalk her name on the tarmac or paving slabs ( It is really important to form the letters properly) and then she could try and squirt the water over the letters.

A bucket of water and a paintbrush is fun-- you write her name with chalk and she paints over the chalk with her paintbrush.

Big pieces of paper you paint her name in yellow and she paints over the top. You could say for example for an a " we go around like a c then up and down and finish with a flick"( Just try and say the sounds the letters make nit their names as you talk to her)
She could paint over the yelow with her favourite colour.

The same can be achieved with felt tips pens.

Trays of rice is good so that she can just write the letter in the rice and not always associate writing with pencil and paper.

Making letters out of plasticine or playdough and putting them in the right order for her name will help her see the pattern.

Making dough lettters and mounting them on a dough base then painting the letters is a real fun way of making a door plaque with her name on. If this is baked it could be hung up which will make her very proud.

Writin on a mirror with lipstick is great fun and seems a bit naughty so may encourage her to have a go.

Writing letters to nanny or a favourite auntie is lovely. Dont worry if its just a picture or a scribble She will soon love getting letters back. Perhaps to begin with you could just encourage her to write the first letter in her name with lots of kisses. She will soon be wanting to show off her newly learnt skills to everyone.

Good luck but just make it fun and a new adventure. Nothing to be worried about.



Dot to dot activities in all the books you see will help because although not necessarily the actual letters in her name it all helps with motor control

jannyannie

Hi

My son was only just writing his name at the end of reception and would never write in cards. He was one of the younger ones in class. Don't compare your daughter to anyone else, it will come. Now at the end of year one has made exceptional progress in his writing. Does she like art? A lot of it is to do with wether they can control a pencil or not. I'm sure she's advanced in other things. My boy is ahead in IT, maths, science and art. Have a lovely summer with your girl and chill.

Pinklepurr

Please please do not worry. Children develop at very different rates and it is entirely normal for some 4 year olds to write and for other to not! Likewise, with reading, some can and some can't. Others learn slowly and others fast. Some will breeze thru school and for others it requires harder work. Your daughter sounds entirely normal to me so try not to compare her to her peers. If you want to do some learning activities at home, try getting her to join the dots to form letters, showing her where to start and finish etc, or use tracing paper to trace shapes and letters or numbers. Also make sure she is holding the pencil correctly, that is really important. Above all, make it fun!

ELC do a range of "jolly phonics" flashcards, workbooks etc which I found quite useful.

Hope this helps!

Hapless_2

She's 4 yrs old, stuff the writing! Some countries don't even start school until they are 7!

Outnumberedbysmallpeople

My eldest could long before age 4 but my 2nd child he's 4.5 and we just about get the "J" out of him for the start of his name (only just started to draw what we can tell are people- my sister jokes they look like crabs and i admit she's right) his sister is a year younger and she can write more than him but he is significantly more active physically, he's much more of a risk taker, he's got a very forward imagination so what the 2 girls have over him in terms of literacy he's miles ahead in terms of creative play & sports.

I really wouldn't worry about it, they all pick up different things and different rates and focus their energies where they see fit.