How to teach my child to write the numbers

My four year old is having a difficult time trying to learn to write the numbers.  I figured since she could name numbers to ten and can count to 30 that she was ready to write the numbers too.  Do you have any advice about how to teach a child to write the numbers?

Ahhh… writing can be an uphill battle for so many little ones.  First of all, they need to have developed prerequisite skills to writing before they are truly “ready” to write numbers, letters and their own name.  Prerequisite skills would be the ability to use appropriate pencil/crayon grip; strong small muscle control of the fingers and hands; and plenty of practice making lines, curves, zig zags and other movement patterns in the air with their fingers.  Simply playing copy cat with your child can help increase her proficiency and written form.  You draw a straight line and then ask her to copy cat.  Keep these games going as you draw zig zags, circles, curves, mountains, squares, etc…  Make sure you are using unlined paper and don’t worry about where she is drawing (top, middle or bottom).  Children will not understand the top to bottom and lined paper writing until late in their kindergarten year or early first grade – nor do they technically NEED to understand it before this time in their lives.

Here is a great little set of rhymes for making the numbers in the air and then eventually on paper when she is ready:

1 Straight line down and then you’re done. That’s the way to make a one.

2 Around and back on a railroad track. TWO! TWO!

3 Around a tree and around a tree, that’s the way to make a three

4 Down and over and down some more, that’s the way we make a four

5 Straight line down, then around. Hat on top and five’s a clown.

6 Six is found by going down and around

7 Across the sky and down from heaven that’s the way to make a seven

8 Make an S. Don’t be late. Back to the top and that’s an eight.

9 A loop and a line and that is nine

10 A straight line down, its fun, its one, but with a zero beside it makes ten more fun

Children should always begin practicing the writing process of numbers, letters, shapes and so on with their fingers.  For example, put some shaving cream on the walls of the bath tub and let him make the numbers, write them in the air together with large arm movements and fill a gallon size bag with rice or flour (secure tightly) and make the letter formations on the bag.  Your child will be amazed to watch the rice move out of the way when a stroke is made.