Fine motor Skills
Sometimes it’s hard to look at your child’s artwork or their name writing and not be discouraged. Errantly we compare our child to other children or to expectations that are not developmentally appropriate.
I don’t teach letter writing but I do help children that are curious and ready. How do I know when they are ready? They spend more time at the table doing art projects. You can look at their pencil grasp and see if their little muscles are ready to hold writing tools yet. In January, mainly for my children that will be going to kindergarten next year, I do introduce a daily sign in sheet. There is no pressure involved. It’s an opportunity.
The children that are in our group vary from littles that are five and children that are still three. Comparing their skills is just not appropriate. Obviously, a five-year-old that has already had a full year of preschool is going to be better able to write and draw then a three year-old who’s never had those experiences that build fine motor muscles.
That’s why self portraits are helpful. We begin to see the progress and how they can control writing tools. We begin to see the progress and being able to connect what they see in their mind to the paper. Look at the examples below.
These are BB’s self portraits. He turns 4 on Sunday. He’s one of our youngest. He’s struggling forming letters but I can see his progress. Look for it.
Isn’t the progression amazing? I have no doubt by the time BB is in kindergarten that his fine motor skills will be on target. They are on target now !
Activities we do every day through play prepare us to write.
