How to learn to write their own name?

[anchovies]

Ds is in nursery and is 4 in January. He can do the first letter of his name and have a bash at the second but I don't really know how to encourage him to do anymore than this. Others in his class can do their whole name and his teacher said it's something we should work on next, just wondering what you guys think?

Yep. Dot-to-dot, then move on to copying what you've written and eventually they remember how to do it by themselves.

Our preschool had they names on card at the door that the child was encouraged to get and then post in the letter box before they sit down to help them recognize they name. Also dot to dot

My ds was completely uninterested in learning to write or draw until he was in reception this yr.
They do cursive writing and I bought this and hie writing improved loads.Also has to do with him loving doing it now and being a bit older.Ds was just 5 when he started reception so your ds isn't unusual in not being able to write his name at 4.Quite a few in his class are still struggling

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dd1 is 3 and can learnt to write her own name in fact just about anything a few weeks back. I use her Magna Doodle and I wrote it first then she copied now she can write her name, dd2's, daddy & mummy - and our first names, papa, gran and her uncle's first name!!

Magna doodle is a great thing for learning to write IMO.

should read ' has learnt'

I'm a big fan of dot to dot too. Use opportunities to encourage writing. Ds (3) wanted to get in on the action when big sis was doing her Christmas cards, so he did several dot to dot Christmas cards for his Pre-School buddies

it might be a while before he writes his name independently = he has 9 letters in his name

Thanks everyone. His nursery also do the postbox thing and he has no probs with recognising his name, he is just completely uninterested in learning to write it. Will have a go with tracing paper/dot to dot. The other thing I am not sure about is do we have to worry about how he forms the letters (e.g. down, then up, then round all without taking the pencil off) or should he do a ball and a stick (doesn't seem right!)?

Yes 9 letters here too hmc, seems like an impossible task!

Am now intrigued re what his name might be....

DD is 3.9 and I write her name in pencil for her to trace over in pen - more for a bit of novelty, so she can write her name in cards etc, than for learning purposes. Good job really, cos she almost invariably does the letters backwards - they don't turn out backwards, she just goes in the wrong (or just unconventional?) direction, down instead of up, clockwise instead of anti-clockwise, right to left instead of left to right ...

We made a name card, by writing his name on ordinary paper then laminating it (at work )[blush}. Then they can go over it with either a white board pen or a washable felt tip and it can be wiped off with a damp cloth, so they can have as many goes as they like.

Not my idea - pinched from nursery.

anchovies-ds' preschool taught writing in the same way as the school the children were to follow on to.

If I were you I'd ask if the reception teachers will be teaching cursive writing or whatever,then you can do the dot to dot thing accordingly.
Tbh if he's really not interested you're probably better off encouraging activities that will develop his fine motor skills.Things like lego,play dough,picking things up with tweezers etc.

Thanks again, will have a go and see how he gets on, to be honest I think if I offer a felt tip he will love it (bless). His fine motor skills are absolutely fab which is what's so bizarre. We get very elaborate drawings, models, bead necklaces etc but just no writing!

Oh and perpetualworrier, I know what I'm doing in work in the morning! Great idea, thanks

don't worry,it'll come when he's ready.
I thought the same about ds last yr and he's writing brilliantly now.

I downloaded the Zyia does letters font from the billybear website (scroll down about 1/2 way) - DS loved me to write his name - I'd print it out several times, and he would go over his name - he also liked me to do my name and dh's.

Have fun!

Personally I wouldn't worry about how he does the letters provided they're legible. He's in nursery, let school worry about cursive writing!!

Fun way to recognise the letters in a name: Use Comic Sans ms font to type the name. About size 36. Print out two and stick one on to card then laminate. With the other, laminate it then cut individual letters into squares, put velcro on back and under corresponding letters on the master card. They can practice sticking letters on in the right order.

Don't pressure pre-schoolers/reception children to write. It will make it a chore and it should be fun. Make it fun and if they aren't interested drop it.

I teach in an infant school with a Nursery attached and in ours they use several of the ideas here. They seem to have moved away from dots recently as some children find it confusing. Usually they start with writing the name in big yellow letters and the child writes over the top with a pencil. They also use the laminated name card idea as children just love using whitebaord pens for some reason!!

DS1 showed no interest/skill in writing his name until he started reception.

DS2 of his own accord has started learning how to write his name he can do a very good Ton a "wiggly" g, and a decent enough ai at the end.

Mostly it is just practise.

When DD was first learning to write we, and nursery, used dotted letters faintly done - and she drew over these. The dots need to be fairly close together. There is even a dotty font that you can download to use on Word.

If the dots are not helping, write the word(s) out very faintly for him to trace over the top. Try to encourgage him to use correct letter formation if he shows interest - where to put his pencil to start a letter, etc.

Ds (4) insists on writing his in capitals. Afraid it's my fault - I showed him the label on some medicine in a vain attempt to convince him to take it. Oh, how I regret it now!

If he's not interested, I'd try the tips here, but if still no interest, I'd leave it, tbh. Let school encourage him with their methods but don't push at home. Will only put him off. He'll do it eventually.