My reception aged son has no inclincation to want to write

[AlwaysTheMummy]

He loves his books and his words are coming on great, but when I encourage him to write he says he can't do it.

Yesterday I introduced a writing workbook with hopes that he could do one page each day, it starts off with drawing straight lines, then zigzags etc, I showed him how to do it but when he tried he got quite upset and demanded that he can't do it, infact he was nearly in tears, so I stopped it straight away.

He is a summer baby and I know he will be behind the winter babies educationally but in other respects he is so bright, he has picked up the phonics and putting letters together to make a work very quickly and I'm a little concerned that he's getting upset about not being able to write.

Has anyone else had a child that was initially like this but has made progress?

so he's 4?

I would strongly suggest leaving him alone

he will be fine

They are practically all like this - a lot of them don't take to reading and writing -particularly writing -until year 1 or even year 2. Please don't worry - he'll get there. You could try and do lots of painting and drawing with him, and try ne ways and places to do it (chalk on the pavement, brush dipped in plain water on the fence, with a stick in the sand, squeezy ketchup on the dinner..that sort of thing) But i think you were right to ditch the workbook at once - don't make a battle out of it!

boys really really aren't ready for that sort of fine control at 4. If you push him it will be a phobia. ds2's teacher yelled at him at 5 for not writing and the poor lad didn't pick up a pencil till he was 10 he was so traumatised!

Get him drawing instead.

that's what I'm doing Twiglett, I'm not a pushy parent so if he doesn't want to write I wont push him, I was just a little concerned thats all. I'm sure it will come to him eventually

excellent ideas Seeker, thanks xx

We are particularly keen on the painting the fence one - we still do that and mine are nearly 7 and 12!

just re-read what I wrote nad it sounds rather harsh .. sorry was distracted by 3 year old

I think he's fine and will be fine and you're right not to worry unduly and doing the right thing in not pushing

Twiglett, it wasn't harsh, no offense taken

Seeker, I will definitely introduce painting, sounds great

My ds1 was like this, nursery teacher always telling me to encourage him to try and write his name, but he had no intreast and eventually i gave up trying. He is half way through year 1 and his teacher has no issues with his writting/pencil controll at all. I wouldnt worry he will show intreast when he is ready.

I would get him to do things to help his fine motor skils. Lots of playdough, threading etc.

He is little. My son refused to write in reception. I wouldn't worry until he finishes reception. He is really little.

I would get him to strengthen his fingers, with construction toys like lego, playdough. If lego is too challenging then something like mega blocs might be easier. My son loved Dragon Eggs by mega blocks. He rejected duplo as being too babyish. Transformers are good toy for strengthening fingers.

Maybe you could send him to a gymnastics class to strenghten his upper body.

Will he draw? My son point blank refused to do any drawing. I got him to make patterns in flour with a finger.

Will he do dot to dot? Will he do colouring. Using chunky wax crayons helps strengthen the fingers.

I think its a bit premature to worry but I used "Write from the Start" over the last summer holiday to help my son. My finished reception unable to draw many letters inspite of being a winter born baby.

My son's writing has improved dramactially. He was on the 4th percentile for fine motor skills for his age according to an occuaptional theraphist and now he is on the 10th percentile

thanks for that reallytired xx