5 year old cannot write at all

[Toarrie]

My 5 yo can’t write at all, can’t draw. Won’t even really put a pencil to paper, he just says it is too hard and won’t even attempt it.
I’m getting quite worried about it now as we’ve seen no improvement in 2 years and now he’s been in school for almost a month and still we can’t get him interested or to try.
How can the teacher teach or how will he even be able to learn without drawing or writing.

He had his preschool eye check when they came into the nursery and there were no issues

How is his general coordination etc?
My son was similar to this at the same age. Turns out he has dcd, hypermobility and dysgraphia.
Not saying your son does as obviously I've no idea but something to rule out maybe?

For him we had to do exercises every day such as squeezing play doh, threading activities, writing with massive pens or giant paintbrushes outside with water. Also exercises to strengthen his core to allow him to sit properly for writing such as climbing, lying on his tummy to draw/write, watch tv and trampoline jumping

Good luck!!

Lots of children haven't started school at 5. In Europe they don't start til 7 and end up doing much better. I agree you need to start encouraging him but please don't lose heart, he is probably just a late bloomer

Yes Scotland so p1. No he wouldn’t do that, he knows what his name looks like written and knows (not from us pointing out) that he can’t write it.
He has brought home a few drawings (scribbles). Although in nursery he would ask the girls to do the drawings for him and bring them home

Hi OP, I recommend Write from the Start, which is a pre-writing workbook to help
children get the fine motor skills they need before writing.

It’s quite old, as I used it for my now 17yo son. He hated writing, and when asked to draw anything, it would be a scribble. The day he drew something which looked vaguely like a triangle was a big day for us. His handwriting is still not brilliant but he got great GCSEs so it hasn’t held him back academically.

link to write from the start: www.thedyslexiashop.co.uk/products/write-from-the-start-a-unique-programme-to-develop-the-fine-motor-and-perceptual-skills-necessary-for-effective-handwriting

I only started because Dd’s nursery insisted they need to be able to write their first names before they started reception.

That's awful pressure to put parents under and not helpful at all! I'm a Reception teacher and we take all our children as they come. I'm really sad to hear there are fellow professionals out there making parents feel like their children are behind before they even start for not being able to do something they may not be developmentally ready for yet.

More fool them to be honest as they'll likely have to correct formation anyway, once the children start with them.

Children definitely don't need to be able to write their name before they start school. That's what we're there for! If they can and want to that's great but they're all different. To insist that they have all been taught to do it before starting school is madness.

I would monitor this closely for the next half term, and if he hasn't made any improvements I would get school on board about investigating dyspraxia. It may be that he needs assistance devices instead to learn to read and write and that pen and paper just doesn't work.

My own son is resitting reception this year as he made no academic progress last year and can still not put pen to paper and looks completely illiterate but at home he will use technologies and whilst still definitely way behind his peers because of the missed opportunities, does so much better with his tablet and stylus and keyboard. We're fighting a hard battle to get this included in his EHCP.

For your son it could still be that he's learning how those muscles work and it is genuinely hard for him but he might also not be aware or be able to articulate the proprioceptive challenges he's facing.

There are so many activities one can do to help develop writing skills and pen control. Start working with tracing sheets or tracing books. There are plenty online for free like https://superstarworksheets.com/tracing-worksheets/ . Also try maze sheets and books , again a ton for free https://www.printablemazes.net .
Try to encourage manual activities and limit screen time, because screens will occupy time that can be better used.

Hi OP, speak to the school. About your concerns so they can monitor it. My DS1’s reception teacher was great and picked up that he didn’t really like to draw or write and kept swapping hands when writing and his letter/ number formation wasn’t good. He was referred to an Occupational therapist which was really helpful as they picked up fine motor and finger weakness which was caused by hypermobility and also sensory processing disorder. They recommended lots of things that have helped such wedge cushions to sit on to help him concentrate and using a writing slope and different chunky pens/ crayons.

Ease off. No pressure.

Give him opportunities for physical development. Large movements (climbing, throwing, crawling) for gross motor and threading, play dough, marbles etc for fine motor.

Does he see a purpose in writing? Message in cards, message written and read to him, shopping lists etc. Model this.

Does he have opportunities through his play to mark make - drawing maps, making tickets for his train, playing shops with lists etc?
If he makes marksu, ask him to ‘read’ them to you. Remember to say to him ‘this can say anything you want it to say’ , Write what he says, for him.

Practice phonics using technology. Can he type words or letters.

Provide a good model, plenty of opportunities and didn't put pressure on. He will get there.

Yes my DS was like this too. School wouldn't test for dyslexia until age 7, as they said it could resolve itself - so it can be just part of the normal range/late blooming. However my DS was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia. It was a tough few years with him struggling to learn to write, but he did do it, though his handwriting is messy. He's also very good at some other stuff, including computing and as a PP said he can type. I was worried at first but I learned to let him make his own way.

The best plan with school IME is to let them know you've noticed, you're a bit concerned and ask their advice for the best way to be supportive.