Building Pre-writing Skills Through Play

Photo by Ana Klipper

An edutopia article by Claire Martin offers suggestions of gross motor skills movement and play exercises to build important pre-writing skills.

The article begins by referencing recent research highlighting the important role of gross and fine motor skills such as running, jumping, and climbing that build a strong foundation for writing by strengthening larger muscles such as core, shoulders, arms, and wrists that set the stage for sitting up on a chair, holding a pen in a comfortable tripod grip, and beginning to write. The author notes, “Classroom-based research demonstrates that children who engage in activities that promote prewriting skills show higher ability in more formal writing abilities when they enter kindergarten.”

Martin lists five areas of focus for the development of pre-writing skills, with suggested activities for each:

1) Shoulder Stability - the Foundation for Control: [If a child lacks shoulder stability, they may compensate by using excessive movement in their wrist or fingers, leading to inefficient or awkward pencil control.]

·      Painting windows

·      Washing painted windows with soap and sponges

·      Digging in the sand and soil

·      Pushing and pulling heavy objects (e.g. old tires)

·      Building and completing obstacle courses

2) Elbow Pivot, Arm Strength, and Coordination: [Children with limited arm strength may become fatigues quickly, leading to disengagement or avoidance.]

·      Drawing and painting on vertical surfaces

·      Balloon volleyball

·      Building dens with sticks

·      Washing toys and baby clothes in a water tray and hanging them up to dry

·      Scooter pull (One child sits balanced on a floor scooter, while another child pulls them along, providing a workout for both.)

·      Two-Person Floor Painting (Tape a long roll of paper to the floor. While one child holds a chunky crayon in each hand, a second child holds their feet and drags them across the paper as they draw.)  

3) Wrist Strength and Flexibility: [A weak or overly rigid wrist can limit a child’s ability to control a pencil and form letters accurately.]

·      Playing with Play-Doh or clay

·      Pushing loose items into Play-Doh and pinching them out.

·      Using spray bottles or water squirters. (This can also be adapted using watered-down paint and spray-painting onto a large white sheet.)

·      Turning doorknobs, twisting lids, or using tools like screwdrivers under supervision

·      Using cotton swabs to paint with (even better if they are cut in half).

·      Finger Soccer (Using fingers to ‘kick’ a mini-soccer ball.)

4) Low-Load Activities: [The author notes that these are great for reluctant mark-makers, removing the need for more traditional writing tools such as paper and pen, and are particularly important for younger children or those who may not yet have the strength or confidence for more demanding tasks.]

·      Dancing with lightweight scarves (There are scarf dances on YouTube that children can follow along with to build confidence with this activity.)

·      Sensory Play (Drawing in coloured salt, using sticks to draw and write in mud and sand; playing with a tray of shaving cream.)

5) Building Strength Through Play: [The author notes that outdoor play is particularly valuable, as it offers a wide range of opportunities for large-scale movement.]

·      Digging in sand

·      Building with large blocks

·      Navigating obstacle courses