HE reception....help!

[duplofrenzy]

DS 2 at home for reception, but figure that I have to teach him at least a bit so that he isn't too far behind when he hits year 1. But he has a very short concentration span and gets so frustrated and cross with himself that he can't do things eg form letters, perfectly already. I'm not pushing it at all but if given the choice he wants to try but then gets really cross with it and it all stops. DS1 just seemed to either know already or 'get it' really easily. DS 2 normal but just so different that I'm lost.
What to do...?!
Any ideas for pre reading or pre writing skills? Am thinking that that would be a good start point.

anything that helps the fine motor skills, I suppose, but my guess would be that they develop in their own sweet time - once a child has acquired the necessary fine motor skills, then letter formation is no problem. And that can often be significantly after 4 years old for boys, can't it?

How about doing loads of lego together?

And for the actual literacy stuff: read to him, read to him, read to him

and have a selection of fun iPad games (there are tonnes of free ones out there that are literacy focused).

And some alphablocks/word world/ whatever you can bear in terms of pre-literacy DVDs and online games

Threading buttons or beads, plasticine/clay, Lego, loom bands etc are all great for motor control

Colouring books and painting, opportunities for cutting and sticking

Read lots to him, look for sounds while you are out and about, give him a shopping list with the picture of the item and the word

If you are HE you don't have to do any 'school work'

All these things will help -leave the writing until he's ready

Someone recommended to me a book set called 'Write from the start'. DC1 has shown an interest in reading recently so I bought them to have a look at and they are might suit your child really well (they are a bit advanced for mine so we'll be sticking to reading for now) - most of the early exercises are for developing fine motor control via colouring and drawing tasks, they don't start letter formation until the very end. They're designed to be used for just a few minutes, daily.

What about forming letters in a sand tray if he wants to write?

Or a whiteboard so it's easy to rub out. Some kids are less perfectionists on whiteboards because they know it'll be rubbed out.

Thank you all for your messages and ideas.

Tried salt tray and whiteboard today before I posted.... Cue fury and frustration from ds2. Arts and crafts often gives a similar but more mild response and 'I'm no good at it' etc v quickly. So Lego and threading etc sound better bets for time being and then try the other stuff later.
I have ordered write from the start.

I am SO glad he isn't starting in a reception class next week..!

Some children see the results that adults produce and think they are expected to produce the same results. This has led to lots of emphasis on "Process not Product" in the early years professional circles. It means that children should be enjoying using an item through which they will learn how to handle that item and eventually will be able to use it in a recognizable way to produce a product, but not right now. The resistance and perfectionism you describe is typical of a child's reaction to being expected to produce a recognizable product before they are ready.

The method that is being taught to Early Years staff (and school) is to provide lots of resources, such as a table of craft supplies, and let the children use them as they wish. There are no instructions from the adults and there are no finished products on display to copy. The children can spend the time tearing tissue paper or making a heap of glue on a page and can walk away without having made a lovely picture for Mummy. The only time an adult will show a child a technique is if the child asks for help.

To do this with literacy then you would bring writing supplies into each game of the day and put them where the child can see them. Leave them blank, don't use them yourself and don't set any expectations:
Playing restaurants - put out pad and paper to "write down" orders (but don't mention them)
Playing lego - put out large outlines of letters (possibly these may get filled with Lego bricks)
Playing I-Spy (use colours if child needs to) - you "spy" some literacy items when it is your turn eg pen, paper (which may raise your child's awareness to the resources in other games).
Loads of reading!
Loads of using tiny movement toys to develop finger control (tweezers, chopsticks, use very fine paintbrushes as well as large ones, beading, HAMA beads, microLego, computer mouse, building card houses etc)

Hi Duplo,

It's just that bit harder on you isn't it knowing he will be going back into year one - try not to feel under too much pressure though and first and foremost, enjoy your time together if it's his last year at home.

Remember that many European schools don't start until around age 7, so if he plays lots then that's fine (lots of play in reception anyway), he will catch up quickly!

If you have an iPad, pirate phonics is a nice game to play. If you try the salt tray again, how about swapping salt with sugar (so much more appealing to write/draw when you have an excuse to lick fingers!!!)?

Cooking and board games are both great for maths (I appreciate the OP was reading as this is usually the major concern!!) and you have had lots of brilliant suggestions already above to try.

How about asking him what he wants to do? You can easily follow his lead and link to school-type 'topics'? What are his interests? This would be a great starting point.

Honestly, try to relax and enjoy spending time together!!

If you are wanting to do spelling he doesn't need to be able to write the letters. Use other things (blocks, beads, pegs, shells, stones -anything really!) with letters on them and build his name and other words.