How much handwriting practice do you do with DC (reception)?

[SwapTheYforaD]

DH and I have been caught out this year with how much we're expected to practice handwriting with DD (turning 5 soon).

She is quite tired at the end of each school day and can't really face doing more work at home. Teacher is pleased with her reading development/comprehension but has said on numerous occasions that she needs more practice at handwriting at home. We try to do some here and there but her stamina is quite poor in that sentences are a bit of a no-go; we've prioritised reading as it's easier to fit into the current routine and we see this as more important at this stage too.

I'm holding onto a self-invented theory that it'll all be fine and she'll catch up- am I living in cloud cuckoo?

I wonder what others are doing. Daily? Occasional? Do you give DC invented sentences to write out?

None

Mine are older now, but the answer would be the same if I had a 4 or 5 yr old at the moment.

She is quite tired at the end of each school day and can't really face doing more work at home. and this is likely to be the case for most Reception age children.

Do a little practice at weekends?

A simple exercise can be to get them to read a simple reading book while you get on with cooking dinner or something nearby, then copy out a couple of sentences in their notebook. You will need to sit with them and take them through it the first couple of times until she knows what to do. We found this very useful and simple practice.

At that age DS was writing a lot outside of school. While kids can always surprise you, waiting for a catch up spurt never works as the other kids are always improving. If a child notices they are behind in certain things they will accept it and it becomes self fulfilled. Think 25 year olds saying "I've always been bad at writing"

With DS even in nursery he always had a note book and pencil in his rucksack. Every day out had some note taking aspect (not everything needs to be a homework environment). He's now much older and continues this way of working and I honestly believe he has written something down as a note everyday for last 5 years without fail.

At that age we were advised to do things like colouring and clay that build fine motor skills and hand strength, but are fun activities and not ‘homework’. Both of mine had unreadable handwriting at this stage in reception, one has come along just fine and a year later is pretty good. The other needed a bit more support - we have used the ‘write from the start’ books with her (found on mn, recommended by the literacy support lead) and it has helped. It is not letter writing, but the underlying micro movements/ skills. We call it the dragon doodle book, and will do a page or so several times a week - again, mostly a fun thing and not positioned as homework.

I also look for any opportunity to get them to write (Christmas lists, letters to friends, stories, etc.). Don’t worry about spelling or letter size, etc - just get them writing to build volume of practise.

DD also reception. I try to do 10 minutes of additional phonics and numeracy each day so 20 minutes in total. DD brings home key words she has learnt so I get her to write a couple of sentences using these words. I was prioritising her reading and then realised that whilst her comprehension is great, her spelling needed some attention. I find letting her have 30 minutes down time before starting helps.

I would link it to some sort of motivation e.g. writing a birthday card, adding a favourite item to a shopping list. I think it's more motivating for children who find it tiring. Also as PP said, you can work on general finger strength and fine motor with playdough, treading etc.

What worked for us at this age was getting a small whiteboard and markers and doing writing on it at the breakfast table.. my son was scared of making a mistake so this worked well as can be wiped off.. we would write silly messages to each other and he was wide awake as first thing in the morning and saw it as a fun game, plus it didn't take any extra time out of the day. You will find a way that works for you!

My DD didn’t start handwriting until y1. We’re expected to now encourage her to use cursive in her regular homework but she doesn’t get specific handwriting practice.

We do reading every day, spellings most days and then she gets thinking skills, phonics and maths homework to do and some online maths and English. We try and get it done the day it’s set so it’s out of the way. If there is loads I use her snack as motivation e.g. one worksheet = one handful of popcorn. Not really a treat as such as it’s stuff she would be having anyway but she likes the idea of earning it.

I'd say it is important to practice fine motor skills at home, but that it doesn't need to be writing necessarily. If she recognises letters and words then that's fab and suggests there's something else hindering her writing. Could do threading puzzles, colouring, practice holding pencils and pens, writing with a finger in sand etc. Doesn't have to be onerous or sat a desk, but I'd search online for some ideas and incorporate them into play at the weekends etc- it'll help!

None.
Just let them play.
I have a real bee in my bonnet about primary school homework though, in that I don't think they should get any, they should just be out playing. I always wanted to write in the home/school contact book "my children don't do homework" but was never brave enough.

To be fair though handwriting is an important life skill, it's not pointless homework it's more about supporting your child's learning outside of school hours which seems fair enough- like reading.

Pretty sure kids can manage 10 mins writing practice and still have hours of time to play.

Teachers honestly do not have the time to sit with each child individually and hear them read and check their writing. Parents really should do a little work with their kids every day IMO if they want them to do well.

Could you try doing a little in the morning before school? That way they aren't so tired and may be more willing to do it.

Eek…feel bad now as DC1 is just about to turn 5 and in reception and I do nothing with her. She is great at reading but her writing does need work. Other than getting her to write birthday cards as and when we don’t do anything at all. I like to let her have time to play after school and also work full time so realistically time is limited. We read together before bed. This is making me think we should really do a bit of practice.

Drawing, colouring in the lines and anything else that promotes practicing precision and holding a pen/pencil is great though, it doesn't have to be dry and boring and just sat writing letters.

We weren't given any formal homework in reception. DD has always been keen on reading and writing though, maybe other kids were given exercises but I don't think so.

Think of ways to make it fun - get some post its and let her label things around the house, or make a treasure hunt for you where she leaves clues, etc. DD likes making signs for her room door (keep out, or DD's room, or vet centre or whatever she's playing that week). Or she got into the idea of secret clubs and would make everyone in the family a little membership card with our names and a picture.

If you've got a bit of cash, kids mags are quite good for having quizzes where you have to write in answers, or you could make your own so write something like 'Once I went to the (blank) where I saw a (blank) and it smelled of (blank). So they fill in stuff about seeing monkeys in the zoo or smelly socks or whatever.

You can also get wipe-clean books where they write in - DD used to love that.

None. We get reading books for the weekend and that’s it, happy to let her chill out and play at this age. She does like to do a lot of cutting and colouring though which is good for fine motor

Ha ha, none, she's FIVE!

Mine doesn't do any writing that I've asked him to do. He's quite keen on drawing at the moment and will sometimes write a caption to go with his picture. We're focusing on reading.
I read something that I thought actually made a lot of sense. First children listen, then after a couple of years, they start to speak the words they have listened to. Then a couple of years after that, they start to read the words they have spoken. Then, a couple of years after that, they are naturally ready to write the words they have read. So that suggested that it sort of flows in a natural order which made sense to me. Children generally can read better than they can write and mine has been reading for a couple of years or so with no inclination to write and has now, off his own back, decided to start writing more.

Honestly none apart from the handwriting sheets she gets for weekly homework. It was the same for my ds but perhaps worse as it was during covid and he was a very reluctant reader and writer. This year (year 2) he has had an amazing teacher who is obsessive about handwriting and I would say he has extremely neat and quick handwriting now.

None but we do a lot of colouring and playdoh, and lots of reading.

None, any actual set homework was done but that was it

As another PP has said, make it practical. Never practised writing sentences but making and writing birthday cards for friends and family, shopping lists (then take them and tick off items), short notes to friends.

Keep it fun and things they would be interested in

Really interesting replies.

Mornings might be more realistic as then I might be able to motivate her to do some so that she can show her teacher maybe. She is a people pleaser and I'm worried the fact she is behind is making her feel a bit hopeless. But I'm just hyper aware that the important thing is to enjoy it rather than starting to resent the idea. She gets despondent when she can't do anything and that's part of the problem I think so it does need addressing. She's in the class 'writing club' (ie for the selected kids who are behind the others!).

If it was just me and her it would be more manageable but her 2yo sibling always wants in with the fun and distracts/pulls her pens and paper away, gets cross if older sibling is getting all the attention etc. DH at work. It's certainly a juggle.

I did none. However I encouraged toys and playing games that improved arm and hand strength which in turn will help writing.