If your child is starting school next month - can they write their own name?

[username5786]

DD is very bright in many ways so I am not concerned overall. But she is starting school next month and point blank refuses to even try writing her name. She has been able to do the first letter of her name since the age of 3 but since then will not attempt any other letter and refuses to play any letter games I try.
My concern is in all the getting ready for school checklist it seems to be the one of the few things they expect.

I just wondered if everyone else's children can write or at least recognise their own name. I don't think it's helping I have a couple of mum teacher friends whose DC can already read.

My eldest DD starts Reception soon and she can't write her name, it's six letters (Violet) and I think she can only do the 'V'. She seems to be able to recognise it written down or printed though. She's summer-born and only turned 4 in June, not sure if that's relevant!

Also although she absolutely loves books she definitely can't read anything yet, though she can happily sit for ages and pretend to.

Yes, has been able to for about a year, but they're almost 5. Can write a few other short words like "mum" "dad", but is not really that interested in doing so

If it's any comfort, my eldest children couldn't read or write their name when they started school and have all left school with A's at a level and are doing degrees now!

I know it's a worry, but I think while some exceptionally bright children are reading by 3, for most early readers it's just a reflection of how much they've been doing this with their parents/carers rather than their overall interlligence.

I have 5 dc and none of them could write their names before starting in reception. My older 3 learnt in the first term of reception but my 7 and 8 year olds in year 3 and 4 haven't quite got there yet.

Many kids are really resistant to writing with pens/pencils but will make letter shapes e.g. on steamy windows, in sand, with water.

DS 6 doesn't know how to write his name but he has just started P1. He will pick it up. Not pressuring him. He will do it when he's ready.

Don’t worry about it at all. That’s what the teacher is there for. The most important thing is they can recognise their name, take off and do you their own coat, do laces, get themselves dressed and undressed for PE and listen for short periods of time.

Yes but mainly because her name is short and all letter with straight lines, anyone with a long name containing an S, G, K, P etc certainly has a harder time

That said, she refuses to do any other word or letter games. She isn't interested in reading and writing at all but they will all get there :)

Yes, enough that you can tell its his name. Half of it is in mirror writing though. But in his nursery school class they really hammered phonics and alphabet.

He'd rather not write anything and just bugger about in the puddles doing outdoor play or elbow deep in pva doing junk modelling mostly