Emergent writing begins as early as age two or three, when children first connect symbols with meaning. It is a critical milestone in early childhood literacy, writes Dr. Christina Bretz, an occupational therapist and senior professional learning developer at Learning Without Tears, in eSchool News.
Here are three suggestions she offers to develop early childhood writing:
1) Create enthusiasm for emergent writing
Surrounded children in a print-rich environment so they see writing as part of everyday life. When children see their names or their own writing showcased, this reinforces enthusiasm for learning. To sustain motivation: encourage children to color signs for the classroom; develop books with children serving as authors; and engage children in personalized stories they can share with their family.
These experiences build confidence and the basics for lifelong engagement with written language beginning from age two to five.
2) Develop skills at appropriate stages of writing
Children develop writing skills gradually. Typical developmental progression includes:
Age 2 — Picking up a crayon to scribble; learning to make lines down and across; and engaging in non-purposeful doodling and scribbling.
Age 3 — Using non-dominant hand to stabilize paper; and learning to make circles and crosses
Age 4 — Learning to make squares and triangles; beginning to trace letters and numbers; developing correct crayon grip; and using letter stencils to increase alphabet recognition and coordination between dominant and non-dominant hands
Age 5 — Drawing circles, squares, and triangles independently; learning to draw rhombuses; and beginning to write letters and numbers
Encourage activities such as finger painting; drawing at an easel to promote neutral wrist positioning; and writing with small pieces of chalk or crayon bits for motor coordination and appropriate grip.
3) Make use of playtime
Play is essential to support oral and written skills, especially in the early years. Children expand their vocabulary, build sentence structures, and connect language to stories and written symbols.
Use open-ended materials and interactive games during playtime – perhaps drawing signs for a pretend store or creating a treasure map – to allow children to practice writing in a low-pressure environment. This reinforces the connection between spoken and written language. Interactive tools boost vocabulary and language skills through multisensory lessons. Lessons teach children word pairs, letter naming, and letter recognition.
This intentional approach to emergent writing results in future reading success and children becoming confident, expressive communicators. Emergent writing should be a developmental journey, not an academic skill to be taught. This can lead to a love for literacy boosted by curiosity, wonder, and joy.
eSchool News
