Kids Learning Pages
Learning To Write
Learning to write depends on the development of fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Indeed, the child must hold his pencil well and carry out the movements necessary for the drawing of the letters. In addition, he must adopt a good posture.
In kindergarten, children have better and better control of their fingers and wrist muscles. However, he must put a lot of effort and attention into writing his letters.
Learning to write also requires regular practice in kindergarten and elementary school to make the writing movements more natural. For the child to have the taste of practicing writing, it is preferable that what he writes has a meaning and usefulness for him (e.g., write his first name or other words like “dad” and “mom,” write with his parents a greeting card, an invitation card or the list of gifts he wants for his birthday).
With practice, the child will be able to control the strength he puts in holding his pencil, remember the lines’ direction, and link the movements well. He will then ensure that the letters he draws are legible and conform to the style of writing taught.
Learning to write is more than knowing how to draw letters.
Subsequently, the child can concentrate on writing the words (how to write such and such a letter or such a sound) and their meaning (what does he want to write, what is his message). Indeed, learning to write does not stop with the ability to form letters.
Therefore, the child must learn to determine what he wants to say and put his ideas on paper so that they are understandable. To achieve this, he must develop his vocabulary and organize his thinking. He must also learn the rules of spelling and grammar.
How To Stimulate Learning To Write At Home?
To motivate your child and promote his learning, you have to stimulate him daily by integrating writing and reading into the family routine. There are many ways to help, but remember that learning is most effective if fun and in a natural communication situation.
- Take the time each day to chat with your child. Indeed, learning to read and write is based on the oral language that the child has acquired since birth. He must first learn to express himself and find the right words to explain his ideas to write. The more spoken words your child will use and understand, the better he will use them in reading and writing. For this reason, let him express his feelings and ask him questions to help him better explain what he means.
- Point out to your child the usefulness of writing in your daily activities (for example, making the grocery list or leaving a message on the fridge).
- When he’s more skilled at writing, give him small writing tasks, like writing a party guest list, the schedule for the day, or a love note for mom or dad. This way, you turn writing into an exciting activity.
- When you are outside, draw their attention to words on business signs or street signs. Make it a game.
- Read books with your child. Through reading, he will understand better that what is written is permanent. You can read a story to him aloud while he turns the pages of the book on his own. You can also read silently side by side. The goal is to make reading enjoyable and allow your child to see you as a role model reader they will seek to emulate. Many studies indicate that parent-to-child reading moments in preschool-age help children learn to read and write at the start of elementary school.
- Please help your child feel confident in his writing skills. So that he does not become discouraged by the effort to be made, he must believe in his abilities and knowledge that his perseverance will be rewarded. So congratulate his efforts and underline his progress.
How Do You Learn To Write At School?
In kindergarten, children discover letters. Simply recognizing them is not enough, however. Indeed, children must learn to link the letter, its shape, and the sound it produces to write well.
In the following years, teachers offer students several activities to encourage writing proficiency. These allow children to explore different aspects of written language, such as vocabulary, spelling, sentence construction, and writing short texts.
