Prewriting Skills Development: What Comes Before Handwriting

In today's post, I'd like to delve into a topic that is dear to my heart as an occupational therapist with over two decades of experience in schools: the importance of prewriting skills. As we all know, writing is a life skill—a vital one that we use throughout our entire lives. However, it's crucial to recognize that writing doesn't just start with writing letters on a page. It begins with the development of foundational prewriting skills, something that can often be overlooked.

Understanding Developmental Readiness

Writing is important, so there is a great deal of emphasis on having young children write. However, we must ask ourselves: are children really truly developmentally ready to write? Children develop their ability to write at different stages, for example, in kindergarten, the first half of the academic year, children usually learn to write uppercase letters, moving on to lowercase letters as they gain more proficiency—simply because uppercase letters are developmentally easier to master at that stage.

But here's where the disconnect often occurs: our expectations for what kindergartners should be able to do with writing are sometimes out of sync with their developmental stage. We expect them to perform tasks they haven't been taught or aren't developmentally yet ready to perform. This mismatch in expectations can lead to frustration and hinder the learning process.

The Role of Foundational Skills

There's a wealth of research that underscores the importance of focusing on prewriting skills before diving into handwriting. These foundational skills are what children build their writing abilities on. Yet, the rush to have children write can sometimes neglect if they've mastered basic strokes. It’s important to note that these strokes are based on a developmental trajectory, so while some 4-year-olds can copy an X, that is still an emerging skill for others.

When children struggle with writing, it may be a sign that we need to take a step back and assess their capabilities. This is an excellent opportunity to consult with an occupational therapist who can offer tailored recommendations for your child. It's a time to reflect on what skills the child has and what they may need to focus on—be it prewriting strokes, coloring, working on hand-eye coordination, or maintaining visual attention to a task, or something else.

Prioritizing Prewriting Skills

Before setting the expectation for a child to write, we must ensure they have a solid foundation in prewriting skills. This groundwork includes the ability to create lines and shapes, such as vertical and horizontal lines, circles, crosses, squares, and diagonals. It also involves fine motor skills like pencil control, hand-eye coordination, and the cognitive skill of paying attention to the task at hand.

By prioritizing these prewriting skills, we provide children with the foundation skills needed for their writing journey. It's not just about the end goal of writing words and sentences but about nurturing a skill set that will support them in all areas of learning and communication throughout their lives.