In this article, discover the essential steps to learning to write: from fine motor skills to the first letters, including proper pencil grip. A crucial skill in our daily lives, we often say, "Great, you're going to school! You're going to learn to read, count, and write!" While school is obviously much more than that, it's an incredible learning experience that awaits your little one. However, learning to write is the final step in a long learning process and the culmination of several years of work, beginning in preschool. Language, memory, fine motor skills—it's a true pillar of a child's cognitive development.
Onward to this new (and very beautiful) stage!
Preparation for learning to write
We tone our hands and work on fine motor skills
Learning to write involves several steps before fully embarking on writing with a sheet of paper and a pencil.
It is necessary to prepare the toning and strengthening of the hand by playing daily with different games/toys/creative activities: modeling clay, salt dough, embedments, scissors (by cutting and gluing).
Then, by emphasizing the mastery of the fine motor skills. The child must learn to manipulate objects with their fingers and hands by making small, precise movements: pinching, rolling, cutting, pushing, pulling, crumpling, gripping, gluing… Then, they must master different finger-support systems. pliers, pipettes, pliers-scissors, reverse clamp…
The secret is to vary the grips and finger bends to strengthen your hand and improve your precision.
All these little exercises will help him later to position his fingers correctly and accurately on the pencil (a topic we will address at the end of the article).
Learning to write: orienting oneself on the page
On a sheet of paper, we write from left to right and from top to bottom.
You need to be able to find your way around the space on a sheet of paper and start by practicing by drawing lines from top to bottom, bottom to top, left to right and right to left.
This will later help to trace the capital letters (A, B, C, D etc…).
Then, later, make circles, loops, and bridges forwards and backwards to learn cursive letters and explore the different letter shapes:
- the round letters: c, o, a, d, q, g
- The letters with loops: l, b, h, k, f, g, j, y, z
- Letters that change direction: b, f, o, r, s, v, w, z
- letters with bridges: m, n, u
- pointed letters: i, u, j, t
Learn the shapes of letters
Distinguishing between different types of writing
Once the initial graphic movements are mastered, the child can begin to differentiate between the main letter forms: capitals, print, and cursive. This step is essential for better understanding how letters are written and connected.
Capital letters – script: uppercase for "block" letters, called capitals (ABCDEF) or lowercase for script letters (abcdef).
Here, the letters cannot be joined together.
A game that will allow the child to manipulate and recognize the different letters. Then, later, to learn the order of the alphabet.
Cards with textured letters that allow the child to trace the letters with their finger. For independent, self-correcting learning.
Cursive letters (uppercase or lowercase), in other words: handwritten letters. The letters here are connected to each other, unlike capital letters.
A set of tactile cursive letters allowing you to match letters with images.
Rough letters indicating the correct direction to draw each letter. A self-guided learning system.
Learn to form letters in a fun way
Learning letters should be combined with hands-on practice. Before fully tracing letters with a pencil, the child must become familiar with the different letters, but also with the direction of letter formation: where to start to make a particular letter.
To combine hand-eye coordination and letter learning, you can use modeling clay, salt dough, or sensory clay to create shapes and explore spatial composition. By rolling, pressing, and turning the clay, the child will develop another form of manipulation.
Learning to trace letters
Position your hand and arm correctly for writing
To position yourself correctly in relation to your paper, the letters you are writing should be on the horizontal line of the page, and your writing hand should be below this reference line, never above or to the side. Your hand should not be bent or curved; it should remain perfectly straight.
Knowing how to hold your pen
Finally comes the long-awaited step: tracing the letters.
Watch the video for an effective method on how to hold your pencil correctly:
At first, it is possible to trace letters by any means other than using a pen and paper in order to make the activity more fun.
Writing on a white slate, a magic slate, in the sand, on someone else's back, in the air…
Writing the first letters doesn't need to be perfectly studious; the main thing is to have the correct arm position, the pen in your hand, and above all, to practice! It is through repetition, using different writing systems (felt-tip pen, brush, finger, water…) and different surfaces that writing will become fluid.
In short
To learn to write, you have to go through different stages:
- prepare your hand through fine motor skills (you strengthen your hand) and spatial awareness;
- learning letters: print, capitals and cursive;
- learning to trace letters: by holding your pencil correctly and through repetition.
Our articles on the same topic
- Sticker activity: to stimulate creativity and fine motor skills in a fun way for young children
- Top fine motor skills games for babies aged 2 and up
To go further
- How can I teach my child to write, and at what age?
- Learning to write in first and second grade – Writing worksheets – Cycle 2 – French – Cursive writing
- Learning to write – Step-by-step progression
- Birth and Growth – Learning to Write
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