what age to start writing their NAME

[indamb]

What age do kids start to write their own name?

My DS1 was about four but I suppose some children are reading and writing at four, I would imagine it just depends on the child and their level of interest in wanting to write their name at the time.

FWIW I wouldn't push it I believe my Mum was desperate for me to write my name before I went to School and I used to have tantrums about it then I went to School (at 4 1/2) and came home able to write my name.

Mine was sometime between 3 and 4. She didn't always do it perfectly (i.e. all letters there and written correctly) till she was 4.

Why do you ask?

DS can write his own name now (he's 4 at the end of Sept) so not going to school til next year. At around 3.5 he could do it with the occaisional prompt (name 7 letters long - so a tough one ! - must be far easier if you are called Ben or Tom !)

Right, whizz. Mine is Caroline, so I was always impressed that she could remember it!

Are they supposed to start writting using capital letters (i.e. ABCD) or handwriting? I'm confused...It seems nurseries tend to use capital letters and schools start again with handwriting. IMO they don't need to write until 6-7 yrs old, it just confuses them. BUT because things are as they are, was wondering what should I encourage DD, what type of letters for when she's around 3??

Ooops, sorry indamb, didn't mean to barge in like this, it's a subject of interest to me and never came accross it being discussed before...

My ds is 4 and a half and can just write his name, nothing else. He has been at nursery a whole year and it taken that long. He starts reception next week. I know the other children in his class can do a lot more. He is very young for his age. All children are different, so dont worry and dont feel pressured. We are assuming that you are asking because you are worried, it may be that your child is 2 and has jsut written their name!

Demented - why are you not in bed yet??? I've become as addicted to this site as you (well, maybe not quite).

My first dd was reading and writing by 4 1/2, the second by 4 but third dd is now 4 and 10 mths and is only just now showing signs of writing her name. 4th dd has absolutely no interest whatsoever. Feel its important not to push them. They'll start when they are ready, not before.

I remember DD1 could write her own name after a fashion (ie in dodgy capitals for some reason, self taught, 7 letters like whizzz's DS) when she was 4 and a bit - at the first summer break at nursery school.

By the time she went back that Sept though she had forgotten how and had to learn all over again, but properly this time!

I always assumed lower case letters, except for the first one which should be upper case. Just the way it should be written. Caroline still uses them interchangably, but I've started telling her when she does do it right that I'm extra pleased with her, for not only writing her name so well but using lower case like she should.

Bed, what's that?

Muminamillion, once you come in the Mumsnet door you can never leave, it's a bit like the Hotel California!

kate, no reason really.
my dd is 2.9months and knows her name india to spell it. but not really sure at what age they start writing it( first child).
she does like to draw but stil scribble.
just curious more than anything.

Branster, encourage her to use lower case - with capital for initial letter - it's what she'll get at school.

DS2 is just starting to do it and he's 4 on Saturday.
DS1 could do it when he started school but he was almost 5. He's top of his class now so I don't think it's any real indication of intelligence personally as DS2 is being assessed for whatever?? and is ahead with this.

Branster - good point. This is a subject that really perplexes me. They spend the first few years at school mastering small, individual letters only to have to completely relearn everything to use joined-up writing!! All my children are HE'd now, but my third has never been to school. So we are using her as a guineapig and are completely missing out the individual letter stage and she is starting off by writing with joined-up writing. We'll see how it goes.

Demented - im too young to remember what hotel california is.

MIAM, we have friends who live in Michigan and when their DDs started at school - at a fairly advanced age compared with ours, obv - I was very impressed that they were taught to form letters with tails, so that when joined-up writing came around it was much easier to do. I don't know why our schools can't do that too.

LOL! My DH will give you a rendition on the guitar then!

I'm going to bed now.

Sorry for the slight thread hijack!

Exactly! What is the point? When i started learning to write, we firstly had to draw small lines (horizontal, vertical, oblique) and circles (ovals and semicircles) in a special notepad with spacings printed on. And this allows for precise and free hand movements, only then did we learn to join this signs together to make letters (a, b, c, A, B, C etc) all handwriting. All very logical and to stress about it. Ended up with nice handwriting too. BTW, are children encouraged to use pencils, ball point pens or fountain pens when writing? What's the 'fashion' nowadays?

One of my friend's dd could do it before she was 3, but her name is "Lily", so basically 3 lines, and a 4th with a bit sticking out!

'no' stress about it, rather than 'to' stress....

Interesting Jan. I don't think they do that here in Florida.

Pencils in the US, Branster.

DS1 is 6 and has to use the tails in his handwriting book. I helped out before the hols and was very impressed with the standard of handwriting.

Interesting. What about UK? We used fountain pens most of the time. never allowed ball point pens (apparently it does alter the style of handwriting in a negative way), but did use pencils some times.

I did see a little girl in the library writing her name on a piece of paper 9not long ago), she was just over 3 (so I was told) and did write very nicely. No idea if she understood what she was doing but it did look sweet!