Writing

[Flowerchild]

This, IMO, is the way to go. Just allowing them to randomly play will encourage chaos. But with guided play, and prepared fun activities, you'll be ahead of the game. Do you use sensory tubs? You could build a tub around letters to entice their interest. Or sensory bottles. It's important to build their find motor skills using materials such as playdoh. 3/4's do learn so much through being exposed to fun organized play.
I started doing theme week based on a letter(or 2) at a time. Borrowing ideas from 'No time for flash cards'(google it, she's got some awesome ideas!) we'd make the letter from an art project, do activities related to the letter. When we did F, we worked on farm activities. It was so much fun! We painted with mud, pretended to milk cows using plastic gloves, made a silo out of an oatmeal container, added rice and small farm animals to the sensory tub. Use visuals too, such as finding the letter in written materials and hanging them up, put their names up to see and find certain letters. Imo, you have to first encourage their love of learning for them to want to learn.

I fed believe in play but we stress circle time which I just don't do. For some reason it feels like a hassle to redirect kids to an a an activity they don't like. I dunno. I guess I do my schedule diffetently. I like to read to them during the break between clean up and lunch while they are waitin. I guess I don't do schedule well

[Flowerchild]

Don’t worry about 3’s not writting. It’s not developmentally appropriate to try and get them to write letters.

Even 4’s who are not headed to Kindergarten the next year don’t need to sit and write letters.

I always have a writing center available with mini magna-doodles, mini mailboxes from the $ tree, little notepads, fine tip markers, self inking stampers, pencils& pens & sometimes small envelopes. This is a great way to encourage writing exploration!


If you have kids who are 4/5 and will be going into kindergarten look into handwriting without tears. You can find all kinds of info if you google it. You can make the curves and lines with cardstock and laminate them.

When you teach name writing teach them to start at the top and go down. Google proper letter formation and encourage proper pencil grasp. Teach upper case first letter and then lower case for the rest of the name.

When I taught kindergarten kids came in writing all upper case and they struggled to correct it.

I’d do a little research and read a bit on teaching children to write to get a little background info.

Thanks! I was just wondering.

[Josiegirl]

Technically they are not developmentally approprite. I like using them as a guide though

Supposedly, coloring books are frowned upon too, but ppbbst on them who say nay. If kids enjoy them, and they're not overdone, why not use them as one tool of learning.

[Pestle]

We work on pre-writing skills: pencil grip, tracing curved and straight lines, tracing sandpaper letters with their fingers, reciting the alphabet and beginning to associate letters with sounds. I have 2yos and 3yos. I think that, without that foundation, it'll be much more challenging for them to learn to write later.

[hwichlaz]

They learn to write their names
Otherwise, we make letters from playdough, make collages over alphabet templates etc.

[Gemma]

"Worksheets take away from oral language development, creativity, movement, problem solving opportunities and the sensory experiences necessary for brain development, human interactions and friendships.

Worksheets only tell you what the child knows, generally only provide one right answer and do not let children use their creativity or encourage open ended questions to expand their knowledge and interests.

Children learn best through hands-on experiences, real life experiences, interactive learning and purposeful play."

Worksheets can definitely be a fun time "filler" once in a while but they aren't usually considered DAP in use for teaching children.

More often than not however, worksheets create passive learners.

I think we just have to agree to disagree on this one cause I believe not all worksheets are the same, and the way they are used could make a significant difference ...again I mean no disrespect to whomever came up with this, it's just MHO

[Gemma]

Supposedly, coloring books are frowned upon too, .

Another thing I disagree with!

[Blackcat31]

I think we just have to agree to disagree on this one cause I believe not all worksheets are the same, and the way they are used could make a significant difference ...again I mean no disrespect to whomever came up with this, it's just MHO

Hey, don't shoot the messenger......

That's the stance for NAEYC and the Early Childhood world.

I just answered the OP's question about why worksheets are supposedly "bad".

[Josiegirl]

Another thing I disagree with!

I know!! Heck, I've got a couple of those adult coloring books hanging around here.

[ColorfulSunburst]

I know you're not supposed to do worksheets but I found them in the resource books we have. I just want to feel like I'm teaching them something and not like they think they run the place they shoudnt do any learning. I love when they learn something and how proud they are when they do. 😍

so, do you want to feel like..., or you want to teach?
If you want to teach, you should know how to teach. If you don't know how to teach it is better do not teach.

[Gemma]

Hey, don't shoot the messenger......

That's the stance for NAEYC and the Early Childhood world.

I just answered the OP's question about why worksheets are supposedly "bad".

I didn't mean to be disrespectful towards you, or anyone. I apologize if you felt I was.:hug:

I guess I lose it a little every time I read that what I've been doing for years, is no longer ok . I would comply with all the "New studies" IF I could clearly see the benefit reflecting on today's kids, which I do not.
Again not directed at you

[Gemma]

I know!! Heck, I've got a couple of those adult coloring books hanging around here.

During my re licensing inspection I asked the kids: "Color or draw" (that's what I usually do) the ones that chose coloring got a coloring page, and the others got a blank page...the inspector didn't say anything about the coloring page not being ok

[Blackcat31]

I didn't mean to be disrespectful towards you, or anyone. I apologize if you felt I was.:hug:

I guess I lose it a little every time I read that what I've been doing for years, is no longer ok . I would comply with all the "New studies" IF I could clearly see the benefit reflecting on today's kids, which I do not.
Again not directed at you

I don't think this is a new theory as they were removing worksheets and rote learning from preschool environments when my daughter was in preschool and she's 30 yrs old now.

I think there IS benefit to not using worksheets and/or coloring books but my goal isn't to have a "school-like" setting so I don't care... my kiddos get plain paper and coloring books.

Like Josie said I too have adult coloring books. I love them!

I don't do worksheets though with my kiddos but not because I don't believe or do believe in their usefulness but more because most my kiddos don't or can't write yet so they just don't work for me. I do use some that are for cutting skills...you know those kinds that you have to cut out the object and then glue it in the right area....

Those are fun!

[Flowerchild]

so, do you want to feel like..., or you want to teach?
If you want to teach, you should know how to teach. If you don't know how to teach it is better do not teach.

That was rude. I was just asking how people teach writing if they do. I'm better with babies but wonder sometimes if what I do means anything. That's what I meant

[ColorfulSunburst]

That was rude. I was just asking how people teach writing if they do. I'm better with babies but wonder sometimes if what I do means anything. That's what I meant

why was it rude?
will you allow anyone to teach your kids to drive a car if that person doesn't know how to drive? Will it be rude to recommend that person do not do it?