Needed!!!!!!! Fun Ways to.....

Tabatha - posted on 12/18/2010

Thanks everyone. Great ideas. I just might have to try them all.

Jodi - posted on 12/18/2010

My mom used to do this with me and I loved it! Pour just enough granulated sugar to lightly cover the bottom of a cookie sheet or cake pan. Using your finger or the eraser end of a pencil write her name, or just the first letter of her name into the sugar. Have her trace the letter or copy it next to or below yours in the sugar with her own finger or pencil. When she's finished, just shake the sugar until it lays flat again and you can start again or a new letter! Best of luck!

Isabella - posted on 12/17/2010

Don't worry, I use this video on youtube its awesome and its all you'll need to get your child reading and writing. Its from montessori. Well worth it. My 3 year old dances to it every day and knows all her letter sounds. Simply amazing try it and tell others.

Jennifer - posted on 12/16/2010

I used shaving cream on the bathroom walls and my son practiced writing his name that way. It was so easy to wash off the walls and it smelled good! You can also try fingerpaints or write her name with a magic marker and have her trace over it with a crayon. I taught my son how to spell his name by making up a cheer. I would say, "Give me an A...Give me an L...." and so on. He would shout the letters after I said them. To ease your frustration, keep in mind that her fine motor skills are still developing so it's a challenging task that requires daily practice (and it certainly doesn't need to be perfect). My son is 4 now and his letters are all over the place and are too large but that's completely normal. At least he can spell his name and form the letters properly. By the way, Head Start is an excellent program!!!

Tabatha - posted on 12/16/2010

Well first off Heather, I appreciate you writing but I wasn't looking for someone to tell me that its "developmentally inappropriate". Her Head Start thinks that it's appropriate for her to be learning how to spell and write her name.
My daughter is more than interested in learning how to spell her name. If anything is "developmentally inappropriate" its the letting your kid play in her food. I will not be finding another preschool. She learns a lot at this school and I don't want it to change. She is a bright girl but just needs a fun way to do things. She learns better that way.
SO thanks again

Heather - posted on 12/16/2010

That is so developementally innappropriate for them to do...i would find another preschool. If she is interested in it then it is fine but totally not something you should push at all. SOme ways to work on letters if she is intersted is with fingerpaints where you do a letter thru the paint then she follows your tracks, same with sidewalk chalk, orfingerpainting with chocolate pudding (this is not something i have ever done but it is part of many preschool curriculums). Writing her name everywhere and having her find it. Whatever her name is get her familiar with the 1st letter (pointing it out on signs and in books) then go on to the next letter once she is comfy. Read diff ABC books and have her find the letters in her name, etc. But if she is not into it then please don't push it it is really not appropriate at all for them to send that as homework or to be pushing it with a 3 yr old for any reason. good luck

M - posted on 12/16/2010

The best way I found for my son was singing it. My son goes to school and when he comes back he has this tune that he sings with his letters. The tunes are basically the ones we are familiarize with such as Skip to my Lou. It works!