To try and get him to write more??

[Lettermumwoe]

My DS is 4.5 (July baby) and still won’t write or pick up a pen he can recognize his name and some letters ( about 4 in total) but that’s it. He loves LEGO, diggers, tractors, any tools etc. I have tried to relate trying to write to his what he lives but he just will not pick up a pen! I am freaking out here, he is due to start school this year and I’m getting worried that he won’t cooperate in class, or should I back off??

My son started school in September just gone. He could write his name, - I didn't show him nursery did - but he didn't often show much interest in writing, colouring or mark making when his peers seemed to be. I got worried too. One term in and he's sounding out words, his pictures actually start to look like something and he's come on in leaps and bounds. Let the teachers do their thing and enjoy spending your time with him.

Please don't worry about it, lots of children start reception and struggle to hold a pencil and don't want to colour in much.
I'm a support worker and spend most the first term helping them to practice putting on coat, zipping up etc... PE in the first term is always difficult as so many children struggle to get changed.

One activity I do is take a small group outside with water pistels to have a go at making letters and numbers. It's just form making then try to do it with paint then a pencil on paper.

After a few weeks children in reception get used to the routine and it starts to come from nowhere. I know when I go back to work next week some of the class will struggle to write again due to the Christmas break.

Are you not in the UK OP?
Or are you going to a private school.
All state school pupils will have cvs tarted school by your son’s age or if they have deferred will be starting in Year 1.

I don’t think you should worry as they make massive progress in the first term of reception.
He is behind it’s true but probably only because he hasn’t actually been at school yet.

My son was the same, never wanted to do colouring in, wouldn't attempt to write and so on.

To be honest, I do slightly regret not spending more time encouraging him back then because he is behind others in his handwriting now. He isn't defiant about it at school, he's just not that good at it.

The one thing that has worked for me is sitting down and doing writing together. For some reason if I'm doing it, he'll do it as well.

Given your son's age I wouldn't push him to write, but if you can sit down and do colouring with him it might help him to be better with holding a pencil.

@Smileyaxolotl1 Not in the uk no.

lettermum my daughter was exactly the same as your son. And in the 14 weeks of school since September she can now write the alphabet and sentences and enjoys colouring more too.

Leave it! DC’s primary school specifically told us not to teach children to read, write or do maths as they would teach them. It confused children if they had to then unlearn techniques.

A friend of mine sent her DD to a very posh nursery and they taught the kids to write in capitals. Poor girl got to primary which taught cursive script from day one. She was behind her peers in writing as she took a long while to “get it”.

All we were encouraged to do was make sure children could get undressed / dressed, use cutlery, open their lunchbox. So practical skills. Schools are there to teach the rest.