Pre Writing Skills

Are you worried that your preschool child is not able to print their name or print numbers and letters?  Don’t be too concerned about this if your child is still in preschool or early kindergarten, especially if he/she has not learned how to copy basic pre writing lines and shapes.  Copying pre writing lines and shapes is a precursor to learning how to print.  The same basic strokes and early developing visual motor integration skills that are needed to learn to copy lines and shapes are required to print letters and numbers.  Trying to learn to print numbers and letters before learning to form basic lines and shapes is like putting the cart before the horse!

Work with your child on the formation of the following basic lines and shapes:
vertical line
horizontal line
circle
cross (+)
diagonal lines ( \ and / )
X
square
rectangle
triangle
diamond

Developing skills emerge in the following manner:  imitation, copying and independent formation.  Imitation-  you draw it,  then your child draws it.  Copying- you give them a model to look at, and they draw it.  Independent formation-  You ask them to draw a shape, and they draw it.

Emphasize direction concepts when drawing.  Encourage “top down” orientation, because this will be important to transfer these skills into learning to print letters and numbers.   Example:  when forming a vertical line, have your child start at the top and draw the line down.  Use the phrase “start at the top” with your child so he/she learns what that means and what that feels like when drawing.  For circles, emphasize starting the circle at the top and going in a counter clockwise motion.  When forming a horizontal line, start at the left and progress to the right.  Use the terms “left” and “right” to help your child learn these concepts.

Learning and practicing prewriting skills also progresses developmentally from a vertical surface to a horizontal surface.  Initially, it may be easier for your child to practice on a chalk board or white board on the wall, or on an easel.  Later, have them transfer these skills to a horizontal surface, like a desk/table top.

You also want your child to develop stability through his/her upper extremities for eventual handwriting.  A good way to do this is by having him or her lie on their tummy on the floor while coloring, so that they are in a weight bearing position through their elbows.  This gives them good input through their muscles and joints and will help them develop a foundation for stability.