Let's Talk About Fine Motor

 Fine motor is becoming a big thing.  Schools have really stressed kids need to know letters and sounds when they come to kindergarten.  That is GREAT!  It was always like you won the lottery when a kid knew ALL their letters AND sounds?!?!  But then they tried to write and you instantly thought WHOA!!!  I feel that preschools are getting so much pressure to get kids "ready" for kindergarten that they leave out the primary function of preschool.  I feel preschool is an introduction to school.  This is where you learn about friends, sharing, how to sit and behave.  I also see preschool as a place for learning through play.  But I feel they are moving towards a more kindergarten curriculum and kindergarten is definitely more first grade!  I am NOT knocking preschool one bit!  They have a super HARD job of training tiny humans for the real world!  But one thing I have noticed from my nephews experience is they are doing a lot more pencil paper work..

In this picture on the left is a typical preschoolers hand.  Notice that the bones are not fully developed.  Then on the right is a typical 7 year old's hand. and the bones are fully developed.  The picture on the left TRULY explains why preschoolers and younger children have trouble writing.  Their bones are not fully developed.  You might be wondering how do I help my child?  The answer is PLAY!  Do not drill and kill with handwriting papers!!!  Play ball, dress up, practice cutting line with scissors, write their name and have them put stickers on top, playing outside, catching a ball, digging in the dirt, beading, puzzles, etc.  Things that are fun!  They are at the beginning of their school career and you do not want them to think school is just worksheets!  

As a teacher, I always thought bigger was better.  I guess that was just the generation I grew up in.  We had the big pencils and the big crayons.  However that is not the case. For children who have difficulty writing a larger instrument is more cumbersome.  They can't figure out how EXACTLY to hold it.  So the idea is smaller.  Get golf pencils.  No, you don't have to rob a golf course, you can get them from the place that has EVERYTHING Amazon!  If your child has problems with grip these are THE BEST for reinforcing correct pencil grip!

For your little kids four and under these are GREAT crayons to use!  They fit in your child's palm and they naturally grip around them.  I got mine off Amazon but you can find them at Michael's as well.

The little guy that I work with is 100% like my nephew.  Knows it ALL but struggles in the fine motor department.  I found this journal that I think is awesome!  It doesn't focus on letters really.  The focus is more on line formation.  Plus it gives a break down of what age a child should develop handwriting.  Here is the link https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fine-Motor-Journals-5187612

Have a great day! 

Don't forget, be on the lookout for a winter freebie!