2 yo writing

[MrsNormanBates]

Nursery pointed out that 2yo dc isn't writing yet and I should be spending more time with practising.

I had no clue 2 yos were supposed to be writing...is dc behind??

Turned 2 yesterday btw

DD is 2.5 and scribbles... As for writing, absolutely nowhere near that. Or friend's DD has just turned 2 and can write the first two letters of her name! I am not worried :)

Early writing is mark making - in nursery they should be doing this with a range of things like chalk, paint, foam, sand etc. This is not writing and 2 year olds shouldn't be expected to write.

You don't need to spend any time practising! I am sure you have developmentally appropriate toys at home that develop these skills.

Hahaha. Does the nursery just call it "writing" when they mean scrawling?

Like how they say, "Today I had a lovely time sticking coloured paper onto a potato" in the daily journal when really they were just eating the coloured paper whilst throwing the potato at the nursery workers head?

They said writing letters a b c etc. Sges beeb scribbling since 13 months can draw a circle and recognises 5 shapes but cant write any letters yet. Was surprised and worried I've not been doing enough!

Also are they supposed to know the slpha

Alphabet first?

Why on earth do they think a 2yr-old needs to be able to write letters of the alphabet?

Or is it one of those places who want the parents to do all the work while the nursery takes all the credit for it?

I think its time to change nursery as its clear that they are pretty clueless about child development.

Many two year olds are still in nappies. The are better off making a mess with paint or playdough or flour than trying to write. The majority of two year olds are not developmentally ready to write and pushing them is likely to result in an awful and difficult to correct pen grip. Certain bones have to fuse together in a child's hand before they can hold a pen and draw.

This web page explains a child's pencil grip development.

www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/pencil-grasp-development.html

That's a great link ReallyTired. My ds is nearly 3 and scribbles using the palmar grasp.

He's in no hurry to write letters. It proves damage can be done by pushing "progress" anyway.

That's very reassuring thank you. Dc is still in nappies as well and ive been told to push harder with potty training as dc screams when sees the potty.

FWIW, my DS barely picked up a pen/crayon etc before he started school having just turned 4 (August born). He just had no interest, not even colouring in (would occasionally scribble over an entire page but that's it).

Now less than a term later he can write most letters very neatly, his name, some numbers, and can draw loads of things including houses, people, rockets etc. His teacher is astounded (DS also has a speech disorder so was quite behind in general)

I think before he just didn't 'get' that he could represent things on paper IYSWIM?

In any case, it's certainly not held him back. By all means provide lots of materials but don't push it.

Change nurseries, they're insane.

Now I'm nervous the nursery is unnecessarily pushing dc and hinder development. Should I say something?

What kind of nursery is this? Was the teacher reading the wrong bit of the early years curriculum....?

My ds is 4, still at nursery, and they've not mentioned writing. It's an outstanding nursery too - they know their stuff.

Two year olds should be writing?!?!?! I've heard it all now. Seems like a load of tosh to me.

And pushing harder with potty training doesn't sound like the right approach right now if your toddler screams when shown a potty. All in good time. I would tell the nursery to back off, or find a new one.

My DS just started reception in September and turns 5 next month. At the moment in school they're teaching him different lines. Like zig zags, bendy lines, straight lines etc to get him ready for writing letters. He copies dot to dots of letters or uses tracing paper to copy letters/words.

At 2yo I really don't think you need to worry at all that your dc isn't writing anything yet

Blimey. Ours is just coming up to 2 and hasn't even managed a circle yet!

Seriously, I would ask them where they are getting the idea that a 24mo should be able to write letters. Get them to show you something with this written/ WebMD, while it's obviously not a particularly official site, says that kids should be writing "some" letters at 4-5!

And with the potty training... no, no, no. While childcare should be able to say they think it might be time because the toddler is showing an interest in potties, or announcing before they poo etc., I wouldn't be happy with them pushing like that. You can't really push potty training until a child's shown certain signs.

I would be looking for a new nursery, he is just 2, he should be playing, not worrying about either writing or potty training, unless he really wants to! I can't imagine what the nursery staff are thinking!

my ds is 3.6 and doesn't write yet still scribbles. I know a couple of kids that could write letters at 2 but they were more the exception than the norm. His nursery have said to me that he isn't very keen on mark making but they've not said he should be writing letters so i don't think its unusual not to be writing letters even at 3.6!! She said to do things like put sand in a tray so he can make patterns with his fingers etc

Second all those who say your nursery is bonkers - both on the letters and the toilet training. My DD's nursery is brilliant and rated outstanding and I would say it's only from about 3.6 that they have been focusing on letters at all. Even then it is very much governed by whether the child is interested or not.

My duaghter's school reckons that children are not ready to learn to write until they can draw a recongisible stick person. (Admitally the school failed its OFSTED, but I do believe the reception teacher is right on this.)

There are children without special needs in dd's reception class who have no pen control. (Typical august born boys)

???? at the nursery they are being insane.

My son has just turned two. I don't think he ever does any colouring really, but if he does it is a couple of scribbles then he is bored and on to the next thing.

My elder daughter is 4 and an excellent writer now, but she was doing much as my DS is doing at his age.

Just to add when we were gearing up for sending my DD to school (she is in reception) they advised not to try and teach her formal writing but concentrate on co-ordination - e.g. counting beads, threading bobbins etc. A kid who has good coordination picks up writing in a flash once they are at an appropriate age.

I would definitely move nurseries for something much more play based and sensible!

Her future school advised the below, I should have added.