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Growing Hands-On Kids

Growing Hands-On Kids

Child Development Tips, Tools, and Strategies

You are here: Home / Hands-On Activities / 12 Fun Ways to Practice Handwriting with Preschoolers

12 Fun Ways to Practice Handwriting with Preschoolers

March 28, 2014 By Heather Greutman 9 Comments

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12 fun ways to practice handwriting with your preschooler, hands-on activities for pre-writing practice.

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Many preschoolers age 4-5 are starting to learn to form letters for handwriting. Most children, developmentally should not be learning to formally write until Kindergarten age (5+) but it is important to expose your younger preschooler to pre-writing lines and strokes that are needed for handwriting. So today I wanted to share some fun ways you can practice handwriting with preschoolers.

12 fun ways to practice handwriting with your preschooler, hands-on activities for pre-writing practice.

These are ideal for ages 5 and up. However, if you have a 4-year old that is able to start forming letters, these activities are fun too.

Before children learn to form their letters for handwriting they learn pre-writing lines or strokes. Many of these lines are the basic shapes that they learn in preschool. Things such as vertical/horizontal lines, circle shapes, cross shapes, diagonal lines etc. are all needed to form letters of the alphabet correctly.

12 Fun Ways to Practice Handwriting with Preschoolers

  1. Use mini marshmallows and toothpicks to form letters with
  2. Writing icing ice cubes on a chalkboard
  3. Make cookie letters using a rolling pin, and rolling the dough into lines to make the letters with
  4. Trace letters onto your child's back with your finger and have them guess which letter you wrote
  5. Make letters with pipe cleaners or wikki stix.
  6. Form letters with french fries (for once kids can play with their food!!) 😀
  7. Have your older children (5+) write out a shopping list
  8. Use a flashlight to make letters on the wall
  9. Draw letters on the carpet with your fingers
  10. Draw letters outside with sidewalk chalk
  11. Make letters with glue and cotton balls (draw the letter in glue on a piece of construction paper, then place the cotton balls on top to form each letter)
  12. Have them lay on the floor and imitate letters with their bodies (example: curling into a circle for the letter “O”, making their body look like an “S” and so on)

Handwriting doesn't have to be just pencil and paper. It can be a whole body, moving experience! Preschoolers and any child under the age of 6 learn best by using their hands to explore and experience their world around them. Paper, pencils, and sitting down at desks will come later! For now, just have fun and learn through moving.

Basic Shapes for Beginners

All preschoolers should master pre-writing lines or strokes before learning to form letters of the alphabet. I have a book that will show you how to do just that. Basic Shapes for Beginners: A Hands-On Approach for Pre-writing Strokes for Preschoolers is a 79 page PDF digital download that will give you 30+ activities that you can do with your child age 2-5 over a 6 week period of time.  It will introduce them to all the lines and shapes they need for making good letter formations and handwriting habits. You can also get it in paperback format and Kindle from Amazon. 

 

You can also get more ideas for handwriting by following my Handwriting Skills & Activities Pinterest board below.

Follow Heather G. | Golden Reflections Blog ‘s board Handwriting Skills & Activities on Pinterest.
You May Also Like:

Letter Formation Direction Cards, a free printable download.

  • Letter Formation Direction Cards – Free Download
  • Fine Motor Checklist for Preschoolers Ages 3-5 – Free Download
  • DIY Handwriting Toolkit – Free Download
  • Handwriting Warm-Up Activities for Kids

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Filed Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Preschool 3-5, Writing Activities

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CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
All information on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult with a medical professional if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. The information on the Websites does not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one-on-one treatment session with an individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. The information provided on the Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.
Do not rely on the information on the Website as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment as a result of any information provided on the Website. All medical information on the Website is for informational purposes only.
All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY The Website was developed strictly for informational purposes. You understand and agree that you are fully responsible for your use of the information provided on the Website. Growing Hands-On Kids makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees. You understand that results may vary from person to person. Growing Hands-On Kids assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear on the Website.

Comments

  1. Emma @ P is for Preschooler says

    March 29, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    I love these ideas! If I tried to get my daughter to just sit and write, she would never learn anything. She’ll only pay attention to fun ideas like these ones! 🙂

    Reply
    • Heather Greutman says

      March 29, 2014 at 10:16 pm

      I don’t think I would mind doing some of those ideas myself! Have fun!! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ashley says

    March 30, 2014 at 8:14 am

    So many great ideas to help those little hands!

    Reply
    • Heather Greutman says

      March 30, 2014 at 1:03 pm

      Thanks for coming by Ashley!

      Reply
  3. Laura@peacebutnotquiet says

    March 31, 2014 at 8:42 am

    Such fun ideas! My kids will love the marshmallow one…if I can get them to finish the project before eating them all!

    Reply
  4. Theres Just One Mommy says

    April 9, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    Oh, the marshmallow one! I know a certain preschooler who would love that!

    Reply
  5. Natasha says

    January 2, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    I’m so glad that this is on your top of 2014. I have been struggling with my four year old.

    Reply
    • Heather Greutman says

      January 5, 2015 at 10:06 am

      I hope these tips are helpful for you Natasha! Glad you found the post!

      Reply
  6. Sarah | Digital Motherhood says

    May 7, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    Great tips! Shows the difference in schooling in different countries – my daughter is 4 and here (UK) they’re already learning joined up writing at school!

    Reply

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