Writing
Writing is an incredibly complex skill and is closely linked to a child’s physical development. Before children can control the muscles in their hands, they need to develop their gross motor skills (large or whole body movements). In Reception, in addition to PE lessons and the playground climbing equipment, we ensure the children have access to large loose parts to give them opportunity to improve their gross motor skills in varied and challenging ways. For example, building with blocks, making dens, carrying jugs/buckets of sand or water, painting with water on large walls (outside!) or pushing and pulling tyres and carrying planks to build an obstacle course.
Once your child has built up their gross motor skills, they begin to develop the fine motor control required to hold and manipulate a writing tool. Repeated and varied opportunities to explore and play with small world activities, puzzles, arts and crafts, playdough, sand and mud (sorry!) and the practise of using small tools allow children to develop proficiency, control and confidence.
At first, children usually grasp a pencil using a fist grip, which then develops into a finger grasp. The ultimate aim is for them to learn how to use a ‘dynamic tripod grasp’, but this will develop at different times depending on the individual child.
The children learn letter formation when we teach phonics, and will complete some age appropriate writing tasks with feedback and support from adults. However, they will also have opportunities to write purposefully in their play whether it be in role as a doctor, at the home corner ‘cafe’ or replying to a message from a Fairy or the Biscuit Goblin in our Message Centre!
How you can help your child at home
Climbing, crawling through tunnels and swinging on monkey bars are all fantastic ways to improve shoulder stability, essential for gross motor development. So trips to the playground are actually a fantastic way to help improve your child’s writing!
Get your child to help around the house, squeezing the water out of a dish cloth and then wiping the table clean in a circular motion is great for both fine and gross motor development, and may even give you 5 minutes for a cup of tea!
Allow enough time in your routines so that your child can do up their own zips and put on their own shoes and socks, so they are practising their fine motor skills in a purposeful way.