Learning to Write: Before the Beginning

ByChristie Burnett

I find it fascinating when children move into that stage of realising that forming letters and words on paper is different to drawing pictures. Immy has recently started telling me that she is ‘writing.’ Usually she is ‘writing shopping lists,’ probably because lists are what she sees me write most often.

Although these are very early attempts, I can already see that there are some distinct letter-like formations in amongst the scribbles and very different shapes to those she uses when drawing. All of which is perfectly normal for children in the very initial approximated writing phase of learning to write.

What amazing things has your child been learning recently?

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Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.

5 Comments

  1. Such an exciting time when they start to make "writing like" marks and start to understand the power and many purposes of print. I love to watch how it all develops!

  2. Maxabella says:

    The most amazing thing was my Cappers writing backwards and mirror (weirdness) and it turns out that she is left handed and was copying the way right-handed people write. She was starting at the top edge diagnally across from her writing hand – just as we do. As soon as we showed her that she needed to start straight up, her pre-writing came out perfectly. Amazing! x

  3. So exciting to see those letter-like marks making their appearance!

    Your comment on Immy writing shopping lists is interesting. So much of our text work is done on keyboards these days, our kids would see much less 'writing' than children of other generations. I remember trying SO hard to mimic my mum's gorgeous handwriting as a child!

  4. Good call, Maxabella! As a left-hander myself, I was tested for all kinds of learning disabilities as a child before they figured out I was doing that–mimicking the movement, just with the other hand. That's great that you figured out what your daughter was up to and helped her sort it out!

  5. I love your site. I'm most interested in your Literate Child section. I have a blog called Beginning Reading Help. I'm following you and have subscribed with email.
    I've heard that writing on an upright surface strengthens muscles needed for writing. Your picture shows writing on an upright surface.
    I've shared some forming letters with fingerpaint on my blog. I've made a youtube video for it too.

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