EARLY WRITING
Early Writing
It may look like scribble, but from an early age, the marks that children make are an important step towards learning to write and communicate. Through their marks children are communicating their ideas, showing us how they feel and developing their imagination. They are also being creative no matter how messy or scribbly their picture or marks look to us.
It is important to give children regular opportunities to make marks, draw, scribble and create – at home, in the garden, at the park.
Here are a few ideas that you can try at home:
•Flour: A tray with a scattering of flour makes a great mark making activity. You can add water to make it a gooey mark making experience.
•Finger painting: Thick paint can be placed in a tray – children can use their fingers to experiment with this sensory activity.
•Large chalk: Take the large chunky chalk outside. Children enjoy to make large marks on the ground (see photo above).
•Paint brush and water: This is a popular activity at the nursery. The children love to paint with water outside in the garden. They can make patterns and marks and then watch as they disappear.
•Corn flour: One of our favourites! This is a messy one but it is great fun for all. Add water to corn flour until it turns into a runny consistency. Tip it into bowls or a flat tray and experiment with the unique texture.
•Bubbles: Bubbles in the bath can be so much fun. Children can use their fingers to swirl the bubbles around and make patterns and marks. Making marks on a steamy mirror can be great fun too!
•Wet sand: Place some sand into a flat tray – you can add water or soapy water to make it into a mousse like consistency. You can add mark-making tools to support children to make patterns and marks in the sand.
Let us know how you got on with the activities. You can share your child’s mark-making experience by adding observations and comments to your child’s ‘learning Journey’ folder. It would be great if you can take a photograph of your child’s mark-making experiences and send to us.
