3.5 yr old DD - can't write her own name. Normal?

[MrsOCD]

My DD is seems to be the only one in her (small) preschool class that can't write her own name. When I help her trace over it, she's okay but sometimes, gets so frustrated and gets upset. Also, her drawings are all scribbles, not faces or particular shapes. I'm not overly worried but just wondered what the "norm" (if such a thing exists) is. Her teachers have never spoken to me about it and don't want to come across as pushy mum by bringing it up to them.

She will be starting school in Sept aged just 4 yrs 1 month. She's a really bright, outgoing, happy girl.

mrs OCD
my DD couldn't write her name before pre-prep (aged 4) and she is very bright ( and now aged 7 is well ahead in many areas - which I say only in context of the thread to reassure!).

I wouldn't worry about it at all.
And don't try and get her to do it - she will do it when shes ready or when she has doen other things at school.
You don't sound pushy - you sound concerned but you really really shouldn't be

you should just ask the teachers, you'll not come across as pushy. my dd was RUBBISH at drawing and writing but seemed to take a wee leap forward at about 3.9 and now is okay. i don't think she'll ever be an artist, though.

My DS is 3.5 too and he can't write his name. Will go over dots or trace but not correctly and has no interest in learning. Will draw a face when talked through it but just scribbles when left to it.
I have tried to encourage him but ended up geting on his nerves big time so have stepped back!

IME that is totally normal! Can she read her name/recognise it? And can she hold a pencil properly? When she starts school they will teach her letters etc.

3.5! Man, I haven't even considered suggesting that kind of thing to dd, nor reading. I think it's partly because I apparently refused to learn to read or write until I started school aged 5, and did just fine academically, so I don't see any rush. I mean, it's not like she needs to sign cheques or anything.

SO reassured! Thank you all. Yes, she can do a face and can recognise her name and knows her letters and sounds.
Yes, I obvs was worrying about nothing but feel so much better having heard from you all.

My 3.7 yeaqr old is really bright but cannot write with name. He managed 3 letters yestertday. No need to worry at all.

My DS can't either. And when I try to encourage drawing he gets very frustrated and angry.

I spoek to his teacher (more about his frustration than his development) and she told me that it was a phsyical skill that they have to master. The muscles aren't developmed enough to control the pen - nothing to do with their brightness.

She suggested play doh, lego, painting with big brushes. Really just anything that uses their arms and hands.

very very normal.

I think more children start school not being able to write their name than those who can.

Actually DS1 couldn't even draw a recognisable picture/face when he started in reception - he's now a pretty good artist, line drawing type stuff.

DS2 could write the first two letters of his name when he started school - but that was it.

Completely normal

My 3yr 10 month old can't write his own name, but thanks to his older brother can write poo and bum

My DS is nearly 4 and can't even recognise his own name
Still in normal range as far as I am concerned.
It is hard when you start comparing to other children,but I think you have to understand they are all individuals and will do it at their own pace.

I struggled initially due to having DD who is only a year older and is already reading fluently.

They are still babies and will do it in their own time

My Ds is 3.2 and can't begin to write his own name, or draw anything that vaguely resembles anything.

He recognises his name though, and knows his numbers, colours, shapes etc, so I'm not worried. They'll get there.

I agree about it being a physical thing. My DS can't write his name but can type it. So it's nothing to do with not knowing the letters etc.

I think it's also a motivation thing. He really WANTED to type it because of the various games on the Cbeebies website that ask you to type in your name.

Whereas he has no interest in writing it and gets cross if I try to show him how.

its normal.
can you get her assessed by a doctor to see if you could put her off going to school for a year, if you think she will struggle?

Normal. Don't worry.

Many children start school unable to write their name, or letters in general.

Lots of children start school not able to recognise their own name written down.

Lots start school unable to recognise any letters or know their letter sounds.

It is fine, normal. It is what school is for - for them to be taught this stuff and for them to learn. -

DD2 is 4.3 and can just about write her name (and it is an easy one to write!)
DD1 was 4.7 starting school and was just about able to write her name though still got some of the letters the wrong way round on occasion. (and she is top of her class now in Y1)
in DDs nursery (all turning 4 over the academic year, only a few could recognise their name on the register board when they started). This is in a wealthy area with plenty of parental support.
you have NOTHING to worry about!

Comletely normal !

My DS went to school aged 4 yrs 1 month - couldn't write his name - now in yr3 and a very bright kid.

Just encourage any form of 'mark making' and big actions like painting on big rolls of paper, 'painting ' with paint brushes but use water and paint outside wall or patio, large crayons etc etc.

absolutely no point in going to GP about it to get a delay in starting school , firstly if you are goign to a state school the this very unlikely to happen and secondly if pre school haven't rasied any concerns that you will get no where.

Best speak with preschool and they will no doubt tell you the same as most of us on here.

In fact I think school teachers expect children and prefer them not to be able to do 'everything' before they go to school , they will then have a blank canvas to work with and can teach them the correct way to write and sound letters - not saying that your preschool isn't.

Schools prefer children to have good social and personal skills when they go to school.

I have a 3.3 year old who can write three very large and untidy letters (t, d and m, only one of which is in her name). I actually thought she was doing rather well, as I certainly haven't suggested writing to her - it seems far too hard for children of this kind of age! So I wouldn't worry at all. I think your daughter is doing great if she can trace over letters with some help. And my daughter can't draw anything either. Apart from a circle or a line or a dot. She doesn't put them together in any meaningful way.

my son is four and he can't write even one letter. not even the letter his name begins with.

he is a clever little guy though. he's not ready to learn, not motivated to learn yet. he'll get there

MTSF you'd be surprised at how much your DS has 'learned' already but in his own way. Some children are just not ready to write when we expect them to - they need loads of physical activities to help them gain control of their big muscles before they can even really begin to gain control of the smaller ones, the ones needed for drawing and writing. Its perfectly normal and they will come to it in their own time as long as they have plaenty of opportunities to draw or write and are not 'pushed' into it when they're not ready = my DCs and class all love : pavement chalks, paintbrushes and water, huge pieces of paper, trays of sand etc

Note to self - must proof read BEFORE posting!

Change her name to something easier to write, like....Lil!

It's normal.

A girl's hand bones aren't fully developed until 5 and a halfish. Think what a child needs to do BEFORE writing. They need good finger control. Before that, they need arm control. They also need to be able to sit still for a while. Practice pre-writing stuff rather that writing.
Arms: streamers, drums, hitting brothers, brushing hair etc.
Hand/fingers: Lego, Barbie clothes, picking flowers, defusing bombs etc.

My dd2 is 4 years and five months and still cannot write her 10 letter name - in fact, she cannot even write the first letter. She is bright in other ways. I spoke to her teacher who said not to worry, perfectly normal, and this is why children in Belgium don't learn to read and write until age six.