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The Write Stuff
© Copyright BabyClassroomMost of us know our children begin to develop pre-reading skills at a very early age, and that we encourage those skills by reading, playing, talking and singing with our little ones. Writing, however, is often thought to develop later, when children begin preschool or even kindergarten.
Surprisingly, "writing often begins earlier than reading," says Susan B. Neuman, Ed.D., a professor in Education Studies at the University of Michigan who specializes in early literacy development. In fact, Neuman adds, "writing is very often the road to real reading."
Writing skills begin to develop between 18 months and 2 years, says Neuman, when children naturally begin to scribble. Here are a few tips to help you foster those early writing explorations:
Make Writing Accessible: Provide a small writing table for children in an accessible area such as the kitchen, where they can practice writing and drawing while you prepare meals. Stock the area with paper and large crayons and washable markers that are easy for small hands to grasp. Your child should be able to safely reach all the materials on his or her own. "Proving utensils so that children can find them and use them on their own without asking for assistance is imperative," says Neuman.
Take It On The Road: Stock your diaper bag or travel pack with crayons, washable markers and paper so your child can explore writing wherever you go. Not only is it educational, it keeps kids occupied while waiting for the doctor, traveling on an airplane, and sitting in a restaurant.
Ask Questions: When children first begin to "write," says Neuman, they often combine scribbles with pictures in what experts refer to as "driting" (dr-awing and wr-iting). Ask your child to talk about his driting. His explanations will provide you with a unique window into his interests and how he sees the world.
Be A Scribe: While you never want to write over your child's work, Neuman suggests parents listen to a child's explanation of his driting and write what he says underneath or on the back. It helps the child remember what he said about his work and reinforces the idea that writing is a powerful form of communication.
Don't Fence Me In: "It's very important for children to try and write on their own," says Neuman, "so the correct form is not necessary right away." She cautions parents to avoid workbooks that focus on proper letter formation with very young children. These exercises can be harmful, she says, "because the muscles in their hands are not well formed enough to write a letter again and again." Give young children paper without lines, she adds, "to allow the child to explore the different sizes and shapes of letters."
Be A Role Model: Children often imitate adults, so show your children that writing is an important part of your life. Let them see you writing shopping and to do lists and they'll likely pretend to make lists of their own. When your child begins child care or preschool, put a note in his lunch or coat pocket. "They'll deeply appreciate it and have less separation anxiety when they see a special note and a picture from their mom or dad," says Neuman. Write letters and cards to friends and family, and encourage your child to "write" letters and thank you notes of his own.
What's In a Name?: The first word most children want to write is their own name, so help your child learn how. "It's such a symbol to them of their ability to be literate," says Neuman. The phrase "I love you" often follows, another indication that children see writing as a way to communicate with important people in their lives. "One of the nicest things a parent can do," Neuman says, "is write back, I love you, too'."
Next time your child "scribbles" on a piece of paper, ask her to tell you about what she's written. You might be surprised how much she's trying to communicate!
At Baby Classroom, we know that reading, writing and language development go hand in hand. Check out our selection of language toys and DVDs to help your little ones get off to a great start!
... and be sure to visit our sister site, Budget Art Kids, for sets like Jump into Fun Arts and Crafts and Jump into Fun Kid's Art to get your kids excited about drawing and writing in vivid color!
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