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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Could your dc write their name when they started reception?

71 replies

katalex · 19/12/2008 21:44

Dd is 3.9 yrs and will start reception next September. Her 4.1 yrs cousin makes fun of dd because she can't write her own name. Dd's name is 7 letters and her cousin's is 4 letters. Most of dd's pre-school friends wrote their own name in her xmas cards, although most of their names were only 4 or 5 letters.

A couple of times at pre-school I've not known which was dd's picture because the other children have written their own names and the teachers haven't written dd's for her. Are children expected to be able to write their name when they start reception?

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islandofsodor · 19/12/2008 21:46

Yes, both of them could. However both learnt to do it during their final year at nursery so ther is time for your child yet.

DoubleBluff · 19/12/2008 21:47

no theey couldn't

Hulababy · 19/12/2008 21:48

Yes, DD could write her name from quite an early age. But then she loved trying to write and drawing, so it was just something that she liked to do.

In DD's class of 15 most could write their name when they started school, but they were all older than your DD is now (obviously). Not all could though.

Not being able to write at 3 and 4 year old is very normal.

TotalChaos · 19/12/2008 21:49

DS couldn't and wasn't expected to.

ByThePowerOfBaileys · 19/12/2008 21:49

yes but only started doing it towards the end of the summer holidays as I was naming his clothes.

wheresthehamster · 19/12/2008 21:50

Some can. Some can't. Most know the first letter. Don't worry though, it's one of the first things they learn. Within a week or two they can all do it!

Besides there's LOADS of time until September. The pre-school will probably get her to do it but it's no problem.

sunnygirl1412 · 19/12/2008 21:50

Ds2 and ds3 could, but ds1 couldn't - but he's a Christopher and the other two are Ben and Luke - far fewer letters. I even felt guilty at saddling him with such a long name, but that factor didn't enter my mind when we were naming our pfb!

LedodgyChristmasjumper · 19/12/2008 21:51

Yes but her name is Eve I rekcon if her name was Veronica she may have struggled.

Hulababy · 19/12/2008 21:51

School won't expect him to be able to write his own name IME. However, they would ideally like him to be able to recognise his own name written down.

sunnygirl1412 · 19/12/2008 21:54

It's also worth remembering that they all learn different things at different times, but it all evens out in the end. Katalex - I'm sure you're the sort of mum that reads to their little one, talks to them, does drawing etc with them - and she will do fine at school with your support.

I had similar worries about ds1 - would he fail all his A levels because I hadn't made sure he could write his name before he started school, but he is fine - top groups for all his subjects, and a happy, well rounded lad.

TwoCuteFestiveFairys · 19/12/2008 21:56

Agree with Hula - I dont think many 3 YO can write there name TBH, im actually really suprised that your nephew at 4.1 would make fun of her tbh!!

FWIW DD1 was actually 5 when she started reception and could just about manage her name.

DD2 is 4.2 and has no interest whatsoever in even trying to write her name, im totally fine with this as i know she is capable of doing it, and know that she will, when shes interested.

Try not to worry about things like this, children learn at there own pace, and its always easier to wait and take there lead.

madrush · 19/12/2008 21:56

She's only young, use this precious, precious time to encourage her to do all the things she loves doing, don't try to make her practice writing if she's not bothered. When they get to school, they really notice how much less they can control their activities in the day and it made me so sad for my dd.

Schools are good at teaching things, certainly writing and even surprising things. How the dinner ladies taught my dd to use her fork properly for spaghetti in one session when I'd been trying for 5 years I have no idea

Try not to worry and try not to compare her to others, they're all different.

Fizzylemonade · 19/12/2008 21:56

In the class my son was in last year we were told that some children hadn't ever really sat down and held a pencil to write.

Yes, kids colour but there is precision in forming letters.

My son could write his name when he started reception but he was pushed into doing it in the nursery that is part of the school and the school achieves outstanding on all their ofsted reports because it does push the children. But my son's name is only 6 letters two of which are the same and the majority have straight lines.

Lots of children in reception class could recognise their name but not actually write it, some children hadn't yet decided which hand was their dominant one for writing.

Your daughter has lots of time to learn to write her name. It isn't a deal breaker and I wouldn't worry. Too many parents compare, first children are different to second children and some excel in some areas.

Plus I bet some parents faked their child's name, I struggled to get my 5.6yr old son to write 29 kids's names, his own name 29 times over a 2 week period so find it incredible that preschoolers sat and wrote their name in lots of cards.

My son never wrote his name until it was mentioned at parent's evening in the march before he was even 4, we went home and he tried to write his name, it was on a piece of A3 paper, it was huge but he did it!!!

Astrophe · 19/12/2008 21:57

Your poor DD with her cousins being mean to her

She shouldn't be expected to. This is the big downside of free nursery I think - the expectation that children should therefore be able to read/write etc ever earlier.

Bear in mind that in many countries children don't begin 'formal' lessons until 6 or 7 years, but their eventual educational outcomes are generally better than in the UK.

If your DD's reception teacher has any issies, remind her/him of that. I'm sure there wont be any expactations though, and your DD will be just fine. Try and relax and let her be kid...she'll read and write when shes ready.
(sorry for rant...my hobby horse!)

LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster · 19/12/2008 21:58

DD can 3.11 but ds couldn't when starting school but had caught up with all lo's by fist term.
Don't worry they aren't expected to do it and you hve plenty of time before school yet.

NotQuiteCockney · 19/12/2008 21:59

DS1 couldn't do it. DS2 could do it within a few weeks of starting at nursery (the same nursery school DS1 went to). Ok, now he's changed to writing it all backwards , but the idea is definately there.

Some are interested, some aren't. DS1 is not behind now, in year 2.

Piccalilli2 · 19/12/2008 22:00

Dd1 (3.2) can (and her name has 7 letters), but she is very 'visual' and loves drawing.

BoccaDellaNativita · 19/12/2008 22:06

When dd started school, the children were at very different stages - many could write their name (in a very wobbly way), others could not hold a pencil. Teachers are, I guess, prepared for that.

snickersnack · 19/12/2008 22:07

dd is 4 next month and can. But, as one of the mothers of a friend of hers said yesterday "of course, so much easier when you choose a name that can be shortened to something easy to write". Which I think was her way of suggesting that the only reason we call dd by the shortened version of her name (3 letters) rather than the longer one (7 letters, which school use) is so that she can have a headstart at school.

OhLITTLEFISHofBethlehem · 19/12/2008 22:19

Please don't worry. It doesn't matter whether she can or not. The helpful thing would be if she could recognise her own name so she can find her peg/drawer/bag etc.

jollyholly · 19/12/2008 22:23

Absolutely OlittleFish. When dd1 started school, another child's mother didn't name any of her clothing, PE kit etc. When this child lost her cardigan, and the teacher asked whether it had her name in it, the parent replied "why? she can't read it!"

Khara · 19/12/2008 22:30

My dd is 4 next month & has just learnt to write her 7 letter name. She went from not writing anything resembling it to writing it fairly clearly in a matter of weeks just because she was suddenly keen to do it.

MrsSanta · 19/12/2008 22:36

dd was about 3 and could backwards at first, she is now 7 and fantastic at drawing.

ds now 3.1 and just starting to be intersted, although not too good with pencil control. stil he is very young and I am not going to force him.

MollieO · 19/12/2008 23:07

Ds at 3.2 at nursery. 6 letter name, 5 when shortened! He was very keen to be able to write it and naturally held a pen properly from a very young age which I'm sure made it easier. Started reception this September and in the Christmas cards we've received there is a real mix of abilities. Some hadn't really held a pencil before starting school so I don't think it matters if they can't write their name when they start.

paranoid2 · 19/12/2008 23:09

Dt1 definitely couldnt - couldnt even recognise his own name for quite a while into reception, wrote his own name about November of the first term. Was the youngest in his year and premature which meant he shouldnt have started for another year.

Is now 7 and in yr3. Is in the top group for everything.

Dt2 could read and write his own name before school. Knew all the alphabet and could count better than Dt1. He now has a statement due to a number of issues, learning difficulties probably being one of them.

What they can do academically before school is completely meaningless in my view. Children of that age can be taught a lot without much abstract thinking. Being able to write your name means so little. There is so much more going on and i never had anything other than good reports about Dt1 in the early days despite him being maybe (compared to MUMSNET children) being behind in his writing skills because I hope they realised that he was and is basically a very capable chiold

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