Writing from Babies to Preschool

Early writing skills can and should be taught as early as 6 months of age. Here I break down specific concepts you can begin teaching your child at each age range to help build early writing readiness skills.  Writing involves fine-motor skills; therefore, teaching grasping, pinching, tearing, and holding are all key components to begin with early on.

6 months - 1 year

A child should and can learn:

* How to grab something

* How to hold an object

* How to switch an object between both hands

* How to recognize their name when heard

* How to pick an object up with a two-finger pincher-grasp

* How to hold a crayon and make small strokes on a sheet of white paper

* How to be aware for objects and pictures they see in a book to those they may see in their real-life environment (such as a chair, book, apple, cup, shirt, shoes)

* How to put objects in holes

* How to see an object in front of them and be able to grab at it

* Letter awareness

1 year - 2 years

A child should and can learn:

* How to hold a crayon or maker with a full-fisted grasp

* How to recognize their name when heard and responds to it

* How to begin recognizing the letters in their name (print awareness)

* How to recognize objects in a book to those they see in real-life and may be able to name them (such as a table, chair, shoes, socks, cup, book, or toy)

* How to hold a crayon and make strokes on a sheet of white paper 

* How to push/pull, open/close, twist/turn, pinch, tear, and squeeze objects

* How to peel stickers up

* Letter awareness and awareness for letters in their name

2 years- 3 years

A child should and can learn:

* How to hold a crayon or pencil with a fisted-grasp or pincher-grasp

* How to scribble color on a sheet of paper

* How to recognize their name when written out

* How to say the letters in their name (spelling it out)

* How to recognize pictures in a story book and say what they see

* How to hold scissors properly

* How to bead, lace, tear, peel, poke, pinch, tape, glue, and sort objects

* Letter recognition for the letters in their name

* How to trace letters in their name written in yellow high lighter on a white sheet of paper

* How to trace lines

* Associate letters to matching letters they may see (Such as the letter "A" and "A" seen in a book)

* Print-awareness (This is a good idea to label areas in your house that are commonly used the child would recognize and understand:  Such as the "door, window, TV, sink, bathtub, toilet, bed, and refrigerator)  You can also label toy buckets in their closet so they can begin associating what is inside of them, to the name in print:  Such as "Legos, Blocks, Cars, Dolls, or Puzzles")

Preschool

3 years and Up

A child should and can learn:

* How to hold a crayon or pencil with a two-finger pincher-grasp

* How to color inside of the lines

* How to write the letters in their own name

* How to recognize and say the letters in their own name

* How to recognize their name when seen in print

* How to read an easy storybook or repeat reading after parent

* How to cut with scissors

* How to use glue in moderation

* How to trace letters and words written in yellow high lighter on a white sheet of paper

* How to make letter associations and word associations.  Such as saying, "Look, there is a "B" like the letter "B" in my name" while they are reading a story with you

* Recognition for the letters in the alphabet (A-Z)

* Letter-sound recognition

* How letters make up words and words make up sentences (concepts of print)

* That writing is connected with reading:  Teach child how to write letters/words they may see in a book

9 DIFFERENT Father's Day Ideas

We love our DADS - and thank you for all that you do!

Children are thankful for their dads because…

1. They teach them right from wrong.

2. They are a provider and role-model.

3. They protect them and keep them safe.

4. They do “man-stuff” with them, like hunting, fishing, golf, and watching sports!

5. They love their mom.

6. They treat them with love and care.

7. They let them get away with more than mom! =)

9 FUN ACTIVITIES to do for DAD on FATHER'S DAY!

1. "Donuts for Dad!" - Have your child set up the breakfast table with a plate of fresh donuts and cup of coffee before dad gets up on Sunday.

2. Take your child to a craft store like Michael's.  Find a solid colored tie (like white or light blue) and buy it.  Take it home and let your child draw on it using permanent markers!  Help them write their name and "I love you dad" phrase on it.  Give to him on Father's Day to wear - silly, yet cute and home-made which makes it even more special!

* For Infants - you can do this same activity, but use finger paint and help your infant dip their thumb into the paint and onto the tie making finger print dots! Make sure to let tie dry completely before giving to dad to wear!

3. Have child write dad a letter, note, or draw him a picture.

4. Throw a surprise BBQ party on Sunday for dad! Buy some hot dogs, drinks, and chips, have someone take dad away for a few hours so your children can help you decorate the house, and plan a time to surprise dad with a party!

5. Make up a short song with your child.  Sing it together to dad on Father's Day.  Idea?  Here's our song!  *Sung to the tune of Where is Thumb-kin*

"We love daddy, we love daddy.

Yes we do.  Yes we do.

You're the best dad and you're so rad.

Yes you are.  Yes you are!"

6. Just for INFANTS:  Using washable paint and white paper, cover their hands in paint and make prints on the paper.  Date it and write this fun phrase:

"Daddy, these little hands are mine.

I use them all the time.

To give you hugs and say...

Happy Father's Day!"

7. Have your child help dad by washing his car (or truck, of course) on Sunday.

8. Have your child help you make cookies or brownies for (or WITH) dad on Father's Day!

9. OUR FAVORITE!!!!  Have your child cut out all of dads favorite things out of a magazine, such as pictures of cars/trucks, tools, sports, fishing, camping, or electronics.  Help your child to glue the pictures on a sheet of white paper, making a "Things Dad Loves" collage.  Give to him on Sunday and have child talk with dad about all of the things he loves!  Like Father Like Child - getting to know each other so well!

4 Ways to Raise Prosperous Children

My son will be three and a half on July 14th.  We enrolled him in Karate lessons about a month ago.  Best choice made to date.  Some may think, "at 3 years old that is kind of a hard concept for them to grasp and takes a lot of hand-eye coordination skills, not to mention listening and patience."  Guess what?  Yes it does...and there's nothing wrong with that!  We love it...and for a 3 year old, perfect!  He does great too, and looks stinkin' cute!

His karate instructor, Master Culin, is outstanding.  Structured, positive, guiding, and most importantly, a true role-model.  He teaches many words of wisdom to parents about how to raise and prepare successful children that do take lessons for "life", that I thought would be nice to share with the world.

Decisions:  The sum total of everything we do in our lives.   "The true "self-defense" that we should teach our children should be summed up as giving our children the tools to make better "decisions" in their lives."

4 Ways to Raise Prosperous Children

True Knowledge from the Karate Master himself

Written in part by:  Mr. Joseph Culin, Chief Master Instructor, ACMA Certified

1.  Understand what "self-defense" is to teach our children how to defend themselves in life.  "Real self-defense is protecting our kid against potential hazards that happen daily."  Below are several types of self-defense we need to monitor and equip our children with the knowledge to keep them safer in life.

* Drug self-defense
* Alcohol self-defense
* Bully self-defense
* Tobacco self-defense
* Emotional self-defense
* Peer-pressure self-defense
* Intimidation self-defense
* Procrastination self-defense
* Mediocrity self-defense
* Physical self-defense
* And the list goes on and on...

2.  The power of forced habits!  Good or bad, beginning at birth, habits are forced on us.  Such as brushing our teeth, not talking to strangers, or eating good food.  When you are forced into a habit, it sticks with you. We have to "make a habit of safety."  "It is important to take the time to instill new habits that our children will have for life."  I love this quote Master Culin says in his Karate booklet about forcing our kids into good habits.  He quotes:

"When I was younger, I didn't want to go to swim lessons and threw a tantrum.  My mom literally had to restrain me in the car.  She FORCED me to learn this new habit and not give in to my complaints.  Her brilliant words:  "LISTEN YOUNG MAN, I ALMOST DROWNED SO I AM MAKING YOU GO TO YOUR SWIM LESSON.  YOU WILL THANK ME SOME DAY. NOW, I CAN BE YOUR FRIEND OR I CAN BE YOUR PARENT.  I CHOOSE TO BE YOUR PARENT AND MAKE YOU GO. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU ARE 20, 30, AND 40 YEARS OLD, WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO BE FRIENDS."

Genius words I think.

3.  "Successful people do things that the unsuccessful people won't!  Most people go home at night, turn on the TV and engaged in activities that don't help shape their futures.  They engaged in TENSION RELIEVING rather than GOAL SETTING activities."  Teach your child to have a goal, do it, and stick with it beginning at an early age.  Like 3, going to Karate class!

4. Action is the key!  "Persistence on a worthy goal will bring opportunities in front of you, but it is ACTION that will pull them in your life and make them yours!"