When did your kids write their names ?

[wroting]

I'm feeling the pressure to teach my DD to write / read.

She'll be 4 in January. She's clearly my first child as I'm sure I won't be fretting about this with my second.

Where should she be, academically now ?

I want to make sure she has a good start when she starts school.

What did you focus on with your child, for them to have a good start in reception ?

When are they ' reception ready ' ?

She's holding the pen a bit better ( I've been trying for ages to show her how to hold it ). She can trace her name, but can't write it on her own yet. She can trace squiggly lines etc.

She recognises most letters and numbers. She can do a bit of addition and subtraction with blocks etc.

She can draw a person.

What can I do at home to get her ready ?

She's at a preschool nursery 4 days a week. But I want to be proactive.

I'm afraid / aware I sound like a dick probably and this is PFB syndrome or however you call it, I'm just anxious not to be missing the boat.

Her teachers haven't flagged anything that she can't do. I want to have a consecration with them about how she's getting on in those areas.

So far they've just talked about the fact she is settling well and happy and has friends, that kind of thing. Nothing ' academic ' yet. I know she's still so young of course.

I'm SO happy my DD is happy at her preschool. She started in September and is really flourishing. I was telling her in such an excited way and just so pleased and felt she kind of lowered the tone a bit on that one. She probably didn't mean to, but that's how it felt.

This time last year I pulled her out of her previous nursery as she was always crying. I know she's older now and probably just 'ready' to be away from me more, but I'm still so pleased to see her enjoying herself so much.

Yes absolutely, should have added those in. Strengthening the muscles is really important. The spray bottle one is brilliant- my own kids used to love that!

Fair enough. I still intervene quite a bit here, especially in the mornings when we need do get out on time!

I never knew that was important. She does love a spray bottle and cleaning..

Don't worry.
Love her and read to her - that's all you need to do to prepare her for school.

They will help if they need to, my eldest is dyspraxic so was being helped with some things upto year 4, but obviously if all 20+ kids need someone to dress them it takes a lot of time out of the pe lesson so the more independent they are in these areas the better really :)

Even though I do help when in a rush, she wants to do it all herself nowadays. I want to put in my trousers MYSELF she shouts. Everything at the moment is ' no I want to do it MYSELF '.

They will teach her at preschool / she will pick it up herself. And then she will write it everywhere and on everything for the next 10 years 😀 It's a big thing for that age group. Mine couldn't do it before she started preschool, then had it mastered within a couple months of starting.

I am a preschool teacher - we like the children to learn to write their name before school however it's not essential but does help with them being able to name their drawings etc.

I would say main things before school is a well rounded child - can take turns, negotiate disagreements with friends to some extent eg problem solving, understand emotions and feelings of others, can independently dress themselves including shoes and coat etc. Writing their name and knowing some letters is an advantage and helps them to learn to read. Counting and recognising numbers 1-5 is good 1-10 is really good. Recognising their own name. Being able to open their own lunchbox, knowing to ask teachers for help etc.

Oh and self sufficient toileting!

My eldest could write his name and lots of other words at 3. He was always really easy to teach, knew his numbers at 18 months and colours too.
But I actually think he had to unlearn quite a lot at school as he hadn't got the correct formation of letters, it's actually harder to unlearn than to learn, habits are formed early. He also has a very strange pencil grip that we will now never change. His writing is beautiful though.

Dc2 is nearly 4 and can't write his name well, he can have an attempt but we haven't pushed it as he isn't that interested. He definitely doesn't know all his letters and numbers, just a handful.
But interestingly his pencil grip is superb and his colouring in is so careful and accurate, he loves colouring in.
I have relaxed about it all far more, they learn it all in school and even then it is very early to do so! It can actually hinder them to know it before unless they are just naturally very advanced and enjoy it.

For finger grip good ideas are popping bubble wrap, tennis balls with slits and smiley faces to squeeze, putty, different tools such as tweezers, tongs, the basting type things where you suck up the water (sorry I'm not sure what they are called - learning resources do a good pack of multiple tools), threading beads, colouring, building lego/duplo. Learning how to use scissors correctly and stick glue is always helpful too as that takes a lot of practise.

Calm down, poor child

Honestly relax..it's a range...dd did it aged 5 when went to school....those I noticed who were pushed to do things early are now being over taken aged 7 but others. Children do things at there own rate...no hurry...let her play

DD1 is nearly 10 and bright. I have no idea when she first wrote her name. Genuinely can’t remember. DD2 is 3 and can’t yet. I’m not worried.

Hey come on. That's not fair.

I personally think you should be teaching your child basic things (numbers, letters, colours etc) unlike many posters who think you should just leave it all up to nursery to do everything. But also don't worry what they can and can't do as they learn at their own pace (as long as they are being taught in the first place of course).

My youngest was 4 at the end of may. He was also 5 weeks prem. He went to a fully outdoor forest nursery, no academic learning etc done at all… all about exploring and imagination. He started school in September and was writing his name within 2 weeks… now he won’t stop….. he writes it on everything he can lol!!! I was worried he would be behind his little classmates due to the kind of nursery he attended. I wouldn’t worry as once they start school, they all catch up etc 💐💐

I think it's good to help a bit.

I knew how to read and write from home by the time I went to school.

I went to school in a European country though, so completely different - I was 6. Some kids didn't know how to read and write very well and they really struggled.

I guess I need to educate myself a bit more about reception and what's expected of 4 year olds. It just seems to early to start school to me.

You should get Sarah Ockwell smiths book Starting School, she has some fantastic advice about getting your child ready for school

Youngest DD was 4 in September and has been at nursery for nearly a year now. She can write her name independently, struggles with lowercase a bit otherwise ok. The thing is though she's the youngest and so wants to copy my 7 year old so is always sort of in a rush to be able to do things.
At nursery they have to trace over their name everyday and that was from day 1.
They still work alot on things like stringing beads and tracing over wriggly lies to strengthen the hand muscles and don't really expect them to write anything other than their names ATM.
After Easter they'll start phonics in earnest in preparation for reception.

Yes 🙌 thanks for the tip !

I wouldn't actually stress about learning to write. Read to her lots, do counting up to 10 and back, basic colours and shapes. Most of this you'll notice she'll pick up from the books you read. Get her a chalkboard, chunky wax crayons and craft style activities. This will improve her hand eye coordination which all helps when it comes to copying letters.

You can do it in a fun way, children love learning and at this young age they are little sponges. You're doing a great job, the fact you care and are interested is really positive so be kind to yourself. I could read before I started school too. I don't think the details matter as such, but that your child enjoys learning and at the end of the day, the more they learn and the more they are receptive to it the more of an advantage they have (at school and in life!). All the best

EYFS teacher here 👋

Reading, writing and maths will be taught at school, I really wouldn't worry if your child can't yet write their name or even starts school and can't write their name when they start. It will come. Being able to recognise their own name is helpful though but not essential!

Instead prepare them in other ways. Take them to the park! Reception readiness includes things like: gross motor skills- muscles for writing start in the arms up at the shoulder joints, can they climb/jump/swing from bars? Cross body movements like climbing the wrong way up the slide. Mark making, can they trace patterns in the sandpit like swirls/zigzags/waves? Coats: can they put their own coat on? Can they do the zip or fastening up? Can they wiggle their fingers into gloves or mittens? Can they put their own shoes or boots on?

At home, play games! Tiddly winks, flexing finger muscles in different ways like flicking counters or marbles helps develop hand strength as a precursor to writing. Use playdoh, roll it squish it squeeze it mold it in different ways. Bake! Make gingerbread - manipulate the dough (similarly to playdoh).

And can they tell you when they need the toilet and wipe their own bum?! Can they get themselves dressed and undressed (for PE)?

Most importantly - let them be little.