Pre-writing skills are the fundamental skills children need to develop before they are able to write. These skills contribute to the child’s ability to hold and use a pencil, and the ability to draw, write, copy, and colour. A major component of pre-writing skills are the pre-writing shapes. These are the pencil strokes that most letters, numbers and early drawings are comprised of. They are typically mastered in sequential order, and to an age specific level. These strokes include the following strokes: |, —, O, +, /, square, \, X, and Δ.
Pre-writing skills are essential for the child to be able to develop the ability to hold and move a pencil fluently and effectively and therefore produce legible writing. When these skills are underdeveloped it can lead to frustration and resistance due to the child not being able to produce legible writing or to ‘keep up’ in class due to fatigue. This can then result in poor self esteem and academic performance.
If a child has difficulties with writing readiness they might:
Age |
Pre-writing expectation |
---|---|
1 -2 years |
|
2 * 3 years |
|
3 * 4 years |
|
4 -5 years |
|
5 -6 years |
|
When a child has writing readiness difficulties, they might also have difficulties with:
Therapeutic intervention to help a child with writing readiness difficulties is important to:
When children have difficulties with writing readiness, they are might also have difficulties with:
If your child has difficulties with writing readiness (pre-writing) skills, it is recommended they consult an Occupational Therapist.
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