The more experience your little one has with writing the more control they will have. Today’s activity is going to combine a free exploration activity with the structured one….sounds crazy, I know, give me a minute to explain.
I want you to consider purchasing one (or any combination) of the following tracing stamp sets and ink pad. I LOVE using these with my kiddos and there are so many ways to use them to accomodate to different levels of reading and writing ability.
When you first get them in you are going to show your child how to use them by taking one letter/number at a time and carefully dipping it in the ink, and then carefully placing it on the paper.
You can show your child the letters it takes to stamp your name, his/her name, and many other words they want to know how to spell, but FIRST…let them PLAY. I know…takes all the fun out of teaching doesn’t it haha. But this is called free exploration, and children need to have time to play with materials (which are toys to them) before working with them. I used to tell my kids “I’m going to give you 10 minutes to play with the _______; then we will do an activity with them after.”
Then you are going to model his/her name, your name (“mom” or “dad”), and maybe a few other simple words.
Next, you are going to take out a pencil, marker, crayon, colored pencil, or something like it to trace over the letters.
Finally, let your child stamp whatever he/she chooses. It is okay if it is a string of random letters. But you are then going to take your child’s hand (if he/she is willing to let you help) and trace over the letters together. Your child can do this on his own when he is confident enough to do so.
If you can’t afford to buy tracing stamps, go to my “Activity Archives” and click on “Tracing the Alphabet.” Simply cut out the letters and let them make their words using the cut outs, and trace them as well!
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