HOW TEACH YOUR CHILD TO WRITE

HOW TEACH YOUR CHILD TO WRITE

When you teach a child to write his name, you're developing his fine motor skills. You're also preparing him for school. Most kids know how to write their name by the time they enter kindergarten. Teach a child to write his name with methods that are both fun and educational.

Print His Name as an Outline
Learning to write his name is a proud accomplishment. Make the task easier when you print his name as an outline for him to follow.

Using a word processing program or graphics software, choose a large font and select outline. Type out your child's name and print.

With pencil in hand, he'll focus on staying in between the lines while he follows the pattern of the letters in his name. For repeated use, put a plastic sheet protector over the paper. He can use a dry erase marker to practice writing his name over and over again. 

Finger paint With Household Items
Let him learn the motions of the letters in his name when he writes with his finger. Use salt, sand, shaving cream or pudding as a writing tool.

Salt or sand can be spread on a tray to keep the mess to a minimum. Shaving cream and pudding are messier, but some kids will sit for a longer amount of time because they're having more fun getting dirty while writing. Just use the kitchen counter or a tray as his writing canvas. 

Try Sidewalk Chalk
Take learning outdoors. Buy sidewalk chalk that's fat enough for him to wrap his hand around comfortably.

Write his name in large letters. Ask him to try to mimic your drawing. Write his name smaller. Now see if he can write his name smaller too. You're working toward scaling down an over sized version of his name to one he'll actually be required to write on a piece of paper at school. 

Use a Dry Erase Board
Kids love writing on a dry erase board. He'll be able to practice, practice, practice without using a lot of paper.

A dry erase board has long-term use. After he learns to write his name, he can learn to write other words. You can also use it as a teaching tool when you're ready to tackle math, English and other subjects.