Nursery are quite concerned with Ds's lack of pencil control

[NuttyMuffins]

Just had Ds's parents meeting and his teacher said she had a couple of concerns, the main one being his almost complete lack of pencil control. She said he cannot hold a pencil properly at all although he has progressed from holding it in a fist.

He can't write any of his letters or numbers and cannot draw simple pictures. A picture of his friend was basically a scribble. He can't draw shapes either.

However he can use siscors (how the hell do you spell that) and cut stuff out quite easily.

She said basically that if they are doing an activity where he has to take part and it's not on paper he is fine, he'll count etc etc but as soon as they try and get him to do any work on paper he switches off and isn't interested.

I already had my concerns about his pencil control and so wasn't at all surprised by what she said.

I am concerned though as he starts school in Sept and basically cannot write anything at all.

His teacher is going to try some activities with him where he will need to use his fingers in the same position as he would for holding a pencil, so picking up beads, using tweezers etc and she said if I like she can send some sheets home for him to practise writing.

Is there anything else I can do to help him ??

Meant to add that he is 4.3 and does 2 full days at nursery.

oh cnat help sorry
bump

Other things that should help is doing exercises with his whole arm, you need to get the control over the arm and and the fingers will follow. So practice drawing big pictures with chalks, waving ribbons around on the end of sticks, that sort of thing.
The other thing is to build up strength in his fingers, things like playdough, the squeezing and baking cookies - get him rolling out the dough.
The other thing that might be worth considering is a grip to go over his pen. Ds1 has sn, one of his problems is hypermobility and he has a thick pencil with a grip on top of that so that it is really chunky. He was also told to do the above exercises while waiting for OT.

Nutty, please, please, please don't make him practice writing at home!

He needs to be doing all sorts of practical things which will help improve his fine motor control and hand and finger strength. Things like play-dough, small lego, playmobil, sponges in water to sqeeze, tearing paper, scrunching paper into balls, threading pasta onto string etc.

Also, please don't worry about the fact that he's not writing letters or numbers yet - many, many children starting school will not be able to do this. It's quite normal.

I wouldn't worry about it, it'll come in time.

Agree with Kelly about the big arm movements too. Painting with water outside on a wall or paving slabs is good. So is a piece of string tied on the end of a stick to create shapes in the air.

My DS who is now 5 is/was exactly the same. Nursery wanted him to be able write his name before starting reception. He didnt, couldnt write anything. and couldnt draw anything either. I mentioned this to his reception teacher when we had the 'first getting to know you meeting' they have worked on it, his writing is still problematic but he is progressing, and will now willingly draw and colour etc . I dont think they should be too concerned, what is the point of stressing everyone out at such a young age. It will come.

at our preschool they do this really disgusting thing called the gloop tray, which is a big tray filled with flour and water gloop, that the children make big swirly patterns with their hands. apparently this is good practice for writing
what about big chunky chalks for the pavement, or painting.
and please god, no writing pratice

I also think that there should be no reason that they need to know these things before school. Thats what school is for.

Gloop is fabulous stuff, Harpsi's right. It's cornflour and water though which has an amazing consistency.

aha, cornflour and water.
(still not making it at home, though, nonononono but it is fun)

Oh right ok, they gave me the impression that he was one of very few children there that can't do it and that it would be expected in reception.

Both dd's were always very good at writing anyway so I have never come across this before.

By activity sheets I didn't mean just writing, I meant drawing sheets and stuff too, those won't hurt will they ? I don't intend to make him do them anyway, if he doesn't want to then fine.

I will try the other suggestions, thankyou. Thinking about it he doesn't really have any toys where he needs to use his finger tips to play with them, he had more chunky stuff that he uses his whole hand for.

Will see if I can get him some lego.

He has improved slightly from last term as then he was holding the pencil like he was about to stab you with it.

I think I am just worried now that he won't concentrate when he does go to school unless it is a fun activity and so will fall behind.

I am covered in gloop, we had babybath full of it today, think I need a bath, it does get everywhere

Never heard of gloop before, thats one to try outside i think LOL.

Hi NuttyM, just wanted to offer some reassurance really. My DS is 4.4 and suddenly its come good. In the last couple of months. He's at nursery 5 mornings a week.

Totally understand that its a worry, but it doesn't necessarily mean its a problem or that it won't come good soon. Other children in his nursery might be able to do it, so its hard not to compare - but really, come next year, there will be children who haven't been to nursery and learnt the same things.

Its good to be aware of these things just in case, but try not to worry about it . They are still so little!.

gloop sounds good for ds. I was googlign it to see a piccie and I also came across a recipe for clay made from 1 cup cornflour, 2 cups salt and 1 1/3 cups water. You can mold it, leave it to dry out then paint it. ds has been bringing lots of models home, must be same stuff.

My ds is just the same - but he has the most incredible manual dexterity from playing with lego......
and has just started showing interest in dot to dot pictures......
he loves making me a completely random set of dots to join together whilst I make one for him to do of his name or similar.
It seems important to him that this is something we do together. (Not that he knows the letters yet other than the first initial - he shows little interest in letters - but can recognise all the numbers up to 12 as well as counting well, and I expect he will be able to tell the time by September - because that is what he is interested in!)
He also likes water painting outside.

If gloop is too messy then just some fine sand in a tray is good to work with. He can trace shapes and attempt letters or pictures if he feels like it

I am really sad that the emphasis on written work has turned your son's slightly late development into a major problem.

Is it possible to delay his school entry till January? A friend was telling me that legally the school has to do this if requested, although I don't know if she is right.

My little boy is exactly the same age as yours and up until 3 months ago was also struggling big time with pencil control. \however, he has suddenly grasped it...lots of triangle chunky type pencils seem to help. Just to add we had a parent/teacher consultation last week and his teacher said that all the boys were the same....comes from a bit of a lack of interest and practice - compared to the girls. Just a bit of positive for you....she also said that teaching a child to cut with scissors is one of the most difficult things...your DS seems to have mastered that so I should think that he will have no problem with his pencil control when he gets going!

my ds is 4yr 7 monyhs abd has only just started drawing and using pencils.I'm sure your ds will beginn to be interested in his own time.
You could also try getting him to play with lego,the little stuff,not duplo.That takes some finger coordination,