DD 4.1 trying to write

[MrsBeaver]

DD is 4.1 and of her own accord is trying to write letters and numbers. It's her fave activity of choice at the mo, at home and at nursery. I believe her nursery keyworker called this emerging writing.

Her teacher at nursery (it is attached to a school) says to just encourage her at this stage, not correct her, but I'm worried that she will learn the wrong way to form letters. Also will she be so enthusiastic about learning to write when she starts reception in a year's time in Sep 2013?

She has a Sep birthday so if she was born a few weeks earlier she would be in reception now learning writing I guess, so is there any harm in me helping her to form letters correctly using jolly phonic workbooks or anything else anyone can suggest?

DD (just turned 4) is doing the same. DD has quite good fine motor skills and has written her name for some time. I asked her if I should show her how to write it and she said yes. I showed her correctly she does it, only the 'a' she writes in her own way. I don't correct her, but would like to show her again, maybe with another word.

She knows a few more letters and I showed her how to write 'Sisi', today she seemed quite fascinated by the fact that you can change one letter and get another word - Anna to Anni.

We are sometimes spotting letters in books I read to her.

I am finding her name written on everything at the moment, e.g. bedding, cushions etc - I would like her to stick to paper though.

I am enjoying exploring her emerging literacy together, however I wouldn't want to do any formal programme with her as I feel 4 is too young for formal education. Academically she may be able to do the same as those in YR, but at that age they sometimes want to do it and other times they don't. I feel very lucky not to have to send DD to school yet and that she has the opportunity learn and develop in her own time for a bit longer.

By next Sept they will be ready and mature enough for YR, and reading and writing will just fall into place for them.

I would appreciate any ideas of games with letters numbers that 4 year olds would enjoy. Something like 'I spy', we did that with colours and now sometimes do it with colours and letters.

Dd1 taught herself to write when she started preschool at 2.10yo by looking at the letter and deciding how to write.

So, for example, a letter "a" would be done as a circle, then a separate line down the side.

In the second year of preschool they introduced how to do it "properly" and she learnt very quickly (and enthusiastically) how to do it the proper way. She's now got beautiful writing, and is still enthusiastic about writing (except as homework ) in year 7.

I think if I'd stopped her "do it herself" writing at the beginning, and corrected her as to the correct way, she would have lost her enthusiasm and not wanted to write at all.

DS does this too, he's just turned 4. I think as long as you're not saying "No that's wrong" and you give her the opportunity to practice, it will be fine.

DS's name starts with an R, and at first he used to do a circle with the two lines coming out at the bottom, now recently he's been starting to form it "properly", starting at the top-left corner, drawing a line down, following the line back up and then making the round part of the R, and putting the diagonal line in separately afterwards. Someone must have shown him this - so I don't know if that's a teacher at nursery or one of the reception aged children at his childminder's.

DeWe - DD does the 'a' exactly like you described. I showed her how to do it correctly when she first wanted to write her name, but that shall be the least of my worries.

I am a nursery teacher as well- and I hope I can clarify what the key person said.

The main thing to encourage here is an attitude or disposition to learning. So you want to help your child so they feel confident to keep trying and don't worry so much about 'not getting it right' or making mistakes.

You can role model correct letter formation, and ensure that you teach your child to write Upper and lower case letters as appropriate (not write their name all in caps for example)

Obviously I have no idea what your parenting style is like, so this is a massive generalisation: but some parents focus a little too much on "getting it right" rather than encouraging the stage that the child is at. Some also use some really terrible techniques/strategies, with the best of intentions, but can end up doing more harm than good.

Teachers are trained to gently guide children with their techniques, and recognise their most sensitive periods for learning.

The best way to support an emergent writer is by:

• Providing 'forgiving' opportunities to mark make- i.e Water & paint brushes outside, whiteboard pens or chalk. Informal ways to write- during role play, each of you making shopping lists (that only need to be read by the owner of the list)
• Role model making mistakes, show that making mistakes is part of learning, it doesn't really matter and the best thing to do is just try again, practice make perfect etc...
• Give her words to copy from with well formed printed letters (rather than using worksheets or dots to copy over)
• Let her choose the times when she wants to write, do not schedule, force or insist if she shows any signs of boredom or anxiety.
• Provide other activities that encourage dexterity & fine motor skills such as playdough, lego, water play, sand etc...

My DD (4.2) so in Reception loves the wipe clean letter and number books where they write over the letter and there are dots and arrows showing which way to do it

Wipe clean book

Hairy letters app is good

teacherlikesapples - thanks!

Thank y'all. V. helpful.