Learning to write letters and numbers begins during infancy and toddlerhood

Handwriting Practice for Babies and Toddlers

Guest writer: Doreen Bolhuis – Founder of Gymtrix

Just picture this- a little one sitting at a table, crayon clutched tightly in hand, a brow furrowed with determination and eyes gleaming with delight as the letters flow. It is truly a milestone when a child learns to write their name. It’s a fact that most children learn to write the letters of their name before any others.

As a parent, you will encourage your child and help him or her to learn their letters. But, you might be interested to learn that the fine motor skills needed for handwriting begin early in life. Mastering handwriting skills is a complex process that begins long before a child forms his first letters with a pencil. It begins in infancy and parents can help a child improve fine motor skills to prepare them for handwriting.

How can you help your baby develop better fine motor skills? By providing fun and challenging activities that work the small movements of the fingers and hands. It doesn’t take a lot of time or any special items. Just spend some time with your baby or toddler every day with these simple activities.

For babies:

• Sort cheerios into ice cube trays (it’s okay to eat a few as well!)
• Drop cheerios (one at a time) into an empty 2 liter soda bottle
• Transfer a handful of uncooked rice from one plate to another and back again

Babies love these activities. They love the sound of the cheerios dropping into the container. They are curious about the way their fingers work. They are delighted when you encourage them.

One thing to note: babies will have a dominant hand, one that they prefer to use. You will want to encourage them to use their other to develop fine motor skills equally.

For toddlers:

• Sort uncooked rice into ice cube trays ( this is more challenging than cheerios because rice is smaller)
• Mix uncooked rice with uncooked macaroni in a bowl. Have your toddler pick out only the macaroni and transfer each piece into a small bowl. When your child has mastered this skill, try it again, picking out the rice this time.
• Put rice in a small bowl. Have your toddler use a spoon to transfer rice into another bowl.

Remember to play these games with each hand to develop fine motor skills equally

Have you ever noticed your baby or toddler looking closely at small things (like fuzz in the carpet, a small pebble, an ant, a crumb) and trying to pick them up? Encourage these efforts! Your child is working hard to master fine motor skills, and to learn about his or her body and the world. What’s even better? Perfecting fine motor skills at an early age will help your child graduate to writing his or her name!

About the author: Doreen Bolhuis is a nationally recognized physical education professional and the founder of Gymtrix.
Bolhuis developed GYMTRIX™ based on over 30 years of knowledge and practical experience.

To read more about Doreen please visit preventingobesity.wordpress.com and howtopreventchildhoodobesity.com