It is really exciting to see your children grow, learn how to walk, talk and then write. As far writing is concerned as a parent we all need to put in some efforts to help them learn to write. Remember, children are super excited to learn everything that comes their way during their growing years including writing. Your right guidance and teaching can help them learn writing the fun way.
Many parents often get impatient when they have to go through the phase of teaching their children how to write. Well, they often come up with the question how to teach the kids to write. Do not panic as it is real fun to see them scribble, write whatever they want, that is the beginning to learn to write. This article will help you how to teach your kids to write and ensure a quality writing at the end of the day..
The task to teach kids to write certainly is not easy as it starts from teaching them how to hold a pencil.
1. Develop their hands muscles stronger
The very first thing that you need to start with is to focus on developing the hand muscles of your child stronger. The best technique to do this is to encourage and indulge your kid to draw or write as much as he/she can. On the other hand the pediatrics suggests that cutting with a pair of scissors or engaging with play-doh can be the best methods to strengthen hand muscles.
2. Good Grip is necessary
You can actually encourage your child to adopt a better grip by asking them to hold a smaller crayon or pencil as you child will find it easy to hold crayon or a smaller pencil. Teach them to hold the pencil between their thumb and index finger while they rest on their middle finger. Do not worry if your kid is trying to hold the pencil using 3 fingers. It is absolutely fine. The challenge comes in when your child is a lefty and they hide their words using their hand. In such cases you can teach your kid to pinch any pen a little higher above its tip.
3. Encourage your child to maintain the right posture
During the learning process, your child may find it little difficult to manage while holding the pen and paper simultaneously. To overcome this problem, you can use wooden frame, which in turn will also correct the kid’s writing technique. You can let the child write on a surface that is little slanted as it will require your kid to elongate the wrist and at the same time support the pencil correctly while writing.
4. Let the kid start scribbling early
It is always better to let the child start scribbling at an early age. It can be after your child learns walking or holding things. You can give your child a pen and paper. Let the child scribble just to have some fun and you can try to teach him how to hold the pen properly. The kids may not be perfect at that time, but they will learn what needs to be done.
Some toddlers have their own set of writing problems for different reasons. It can be lack of concentration, hyperactivity, lack of developed motor skills etc. You can figure out the real problem and encourage them to write in a fun way.
5. Try to develop appropriate co-ordination between hands and eyes.
- You can let your child play color beads, with bat and ball, practice catches that helps develop them their reaction time.
- Ask them to follow your finger and draw a circle accordingly. You can move your finger to develop their concentration.
6. Exercises ideal for fingers
- Ask your toddler to press a stress ball
- Encourage your kid for a handshake.
- Let your child engage in daily tasks like clipping the clothes with pins while drying them.
- You can also teach your child to open his/her wrist multiple times.
- These activities certainly help the kids strengthen their hand muscles and get a better grip to hold the pencil.
7. Draw and Write
- It is not just about writing alone, encourage your kid to draw as well. He/she can start drawing things that they observe around them.
- These drawing may include basic shapes.
8. Rewards are always encouraging
Well, all your techniques that you adopt to help your child learn to write may work immediately or take time for your kid to start enjoying writing, but one thing that really works is rewards. We all are fond of rewards isn’t? Encourage your child every now and then when he/she learns to write even a single letter, slanting lines or scribbles etc. Buy toys, stickers, colours for them. These small little things will surely encourage them to write. Do not push them into writing when they are not in a mood to write.
Remember, do not scold them while they are learning to write, instead encourage them and appreciate them for whatever they write. They cannot be perfect immediately so you need to be patient with them while teaching them how to write.
Of course it is not an easy task, but toddlers often love learning new skills provided parents know how to encourage them. If you scold them for not writing properly, they may lose interest in learning the writing skill. So, go slow and do not expect them to be perfect while learning. We all learnt writing gradually with age and perfection comes with age and writing. Help them develop interest in learning through puzzles, images and colors. Keep writing something in front of them as kids try to imitate their parents. You will be happy to see them learn over a period of time.