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What I didn’t fully appreciate as a young child was how important active play experiences would be to help me build the skills I would later need to write. There is a long progression to writing that starts with mark-making and progresses as they watch adults make purposeful shapes. Usually, we see random scribbling beginning when children are a year and a half to two years old. After that, toddlers may imitate vertical and horizontal lines and beginning circles that you show them how to draw. By preschool, children may draw lines and circles on their own and start to imitate a cross shape, squares, and diagonal lines. Around school age, young children may be able to draw a “X” shapes and triangles. From there, they will likely be able to form letters and show a preference for writing with their left or right hand. ‍

Each of these steps stem from skills that are built earlier in life. For very young children, pre-writing skills can include strengthening their hands, building the upper body strength to sit upright, learning to reach across their body, and developing good hand-eye coordination. ‍

Here are five ways to support pre-writing at home: ‍

1. Build Fine Motor Skills and Hand Strength. Pre-writing skills require strong finger and hand muscles, as well as hand-eye coordination.

• Kneading, rolling, and squeezing play dough and clay strengthens fingers and wrists.‍ ‍

• Have children use tweezers, tongs, or clothespins to move items like cotton balls or beads.

• Use beads, pasta, or cereal to practice hand-eye coordination and fine motor control through threading or lacing. ‍

• Encourage cutting out shapes or pictures with scissors from magazines, which improves hand strength and coordination.

2. Provide Posture and Tool Support. Make sure that children can sit upright with stability, and use the writing implements they are given properly.‍ ‍

• Ensure your child has a stable, comfortable chair where their feet can touch the floor, with their back straight.

• Using smaller, broken crayons forces children to use a proper “tripod” grip with their fingers rather than their whole hand.

• Tape paper to the wall or use an easel/chalkboard. Writing on a vertical surface strengthens shoulders and wrists.

3. Promote Mark-Making and Drawing. Encourage early “writing,” which often starts as scribbling and drawing. 

• Let children draw in sand, shaving cream, salt, or flour trays to practice making lines and shapes during sensory play.

• Allow children to “paint” fences with water or draw with sidewalk chalk, which builds muscle memory for writing letters.

• Provide thick markers, chunky crayons, and colored pencils to encourage different grips and mark-making.

• Use tracing workbooks, dot-to-dot activities, or trace over shapes made with glue to develop control.

4. Encourage Early Letter Recognition. Adults can support children to recognize the alphabet and start to practice making letters.

• Focus on helping them learn to write the letters in their own name. Start with the first letter of their name and have them find it in their environment.

• Encourage making letters out of playdough, pipe cleaners, or tracing them in sand for a multisensory experience, and then reading them back.

• Use alphabet magnets, games, or point out letters in the environment to make learning letters and other shapes fun.

• Label objects around the house to increase letter recognition.

5. Encourage Daily “Writing” and Literacy. Show children that writing has a purpose and is used in everyday life.

• Create an “Office” by setting up a dedicated space with paper, envelopes, notebooks, and writing utensils.‍ ‍

• Have children help write shopping lists, fill out forms, or write birthday cards. ‍

• Buy a special notebook for your child to draw or “write” in daily.

• Invite your child to dictate stories, which you can write down to help them understand the connection between speech and writing.

At a time when many of us adults type on the computer or use screens for daily tasks, try to show children examples of when physical writing has been helpful in your life, such as journaling, making a to-do list, or leaving a message for a family member. Make sure and write in front of them. When your child watches you write and has access to their own writing and art materials, they will feel encouraged to practice writing, too.

‍If you have any concerns about the development of your child, there are resources to support your family. For children in Lane County, Early Childhood CARES or Connect the Dots may be able to help with early intervention and pediatric therapy. Kid Sense offers a lot of great information in their Writing Readiness (Pre-Writing Skills) webpage that covers pre-writing skills by age, potential challenges, and when to seek support from a local occupational therapist or health care provider.

‍ Resources:

‍ Here are more fun ideas for supporting pre-writing skills:

28 Pre-Writing Activities for Preschoolers

7 Fun Pre-Writing Activities for Preschoolers ‍

Preschool Pre-Writing Skills

5 Creative Activities That Help Develop Pre-Writing Skills

I was recently at an event where a child was handed a toy. They asked an adult, “What does it do?” This was a reasonable question when there are so many toys that only seem to do one thing. And when toys only do one thing, children tend to lose interest quickly. More than anything, children require novelty for skill building.  So consider offering open-ended toys: items and materials that have nearly unlimited potential for what they can do when the opportunity arrives. In contrast to closed-ended toys, these are more versatile and allow for child-led, creative, and imaginative experiences with no predetermined rules or outcomes.

Ideas for Open-Ended Play

Building and Construction: For children who enjoy building and construction, some great options include wooden blocks, Lego, magnetic tiles or marble runs. What makes these open-ended is that they are reusable and can be configured in different lots of different ways. Keep in mind that purchasing full sets is unnecessary – the building blocks are the essential element for open-ended play. Natural materials and recyclables also make for good building supplies. Cardboard boxes, toilet paper tubes, plastic lids or twigs, stones, shells or large leaves are all excellent choices for loose parts that can be assembled or crafted into something new. It’s helpful to have designated spaces for construction and deconstruction activities.

Imagination and Dramatic Play: Open-ended play isn’t limited to construction sites. It can also come from the imagination or dramatic potential an item has. Can it be used to tell a story? Play kitchens (indoors or outdoors) and play food, dollhouses, small animals or figures, tea sets, play silks, animals, dolls, wooden bowls, spoons, pots and pans, baskets, safe containers, or other materials that can be used to extend the play experience. Role-playing outfits, accessories, and household props can bring in additional elements for dramatic play.

Art Materials and Sensory Supplies: Art supplies and sensory materials offer outlets for creative play, self-expression, and skill development. Playdough or clay and accessories, kinetic sand, paint, sensory bins, natural materials, ribbons, beads, buttons, craft sticks, yarn, paper, markers, and crayons. Keep in mind that children need encouragement to enjoy the process and explore colors, textures, and materials and not be concerned with a specific product. All they need is the space and ability to be messy and express themselves freely.

Games and Activities: Adults can also encourage games and open-ended activities that support movement and fun for children that require few if any materials. These might include Simon says, freeze dance or tag, bubble chase, animal walks, hopscotch, scavenger hunts, bean bag toss, obstacle courses, fort building with blankets and cushions, Red Light Green Light, hide and seek, or I Spy. Also, balls can be used in many ways and are often a hit with children. Feel free to draw from your own experiences and be sure to ask other adults for their ideas.

Through their open-ended play, children learn and develop many physical, emotional, and mental skills that they can build on throughout their lives. More than anything, open-ended play allows children long periods of unstructured time to get bored and shift into discovery mode, bringing forward their creativity and imagination.

Additional Resources

Check out this article by Katy Andewrson, “Loose Parts is the Real Brain Booster That Fancy Toys Pretend to Be” to learn more about the benefits of open-ended play.

This set of books on “Loose Parts” through Redleaf Press offers excellent information and beautiful photography. These can also be purchased separately at other booksellers.

For some examples of open-ended art, please read The Power of Open-Ended Art: Sparking Creativity in Preschoolers by Creative World School or The Best Kids’ Art Ideas for 2025 by Jean Van’t Hul.

They are works of art! Literally! I am constantly amazed at the artistic skill of the illustrators. The authors magically make the readers feel inspired, cozy, seen, happy, and mighty in just 32 pages.

Behold, the Picture Book 

Mac Barnett was recently named the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. This prestigious appointment comes with an opportunity to choose a platform on which to focus for the tenure. Barnett named his theme, Behold, the Picture Book! Let’s Celebrate Stories We Can Feel, Hear, and See, to elevate the status of these texts.

When we take a moment to consider the talent required to create a book that makes the reader feel so deeply and to acknowledge the special rituals that often surround snuggled-up book reading time, the word “behold” is perfect. These books have become beloved by children.

As Barnett says in an interview with NPR, “The picture book is my favorite art form. It’s such an incredible, vibrant, exciting, forward-looking, experimental art form.”

Rebellious Read Alouds 

OPEC’s Training Academy hosted former kindergarten teacher and author, Vera Ahiyya, to discuss her book, Rebellious Read Alouds and the power of picture books. She shared staggering statistics about diverse representation in picture books.

Animals are the 2nd most popular primary character, and Ahiyya said children are less likely to emulate book behavior from an animal character than they are from a person. Learning valuable lessons from books would have a larger impact if the characters were people.

Ahiyya reiterated the importance of reading “mirrors, windows, and sliding doors” books, an idea coined by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop. Dr. Bishop suggests that we need all three types of books. Mirror books reflect the reader’s experience; they see themselves in the story. Window books help the reader see into other worlds. Sliding glass door books help the reader enter into another world through empathy.

Finding a “Just Right” Book 

As a classroom teacher, I loved the challenge of matching the perfect book to a student. Learning a student’s interests and reading ability, thinking through my favorite stories, and handing a child a book they loved was highly fulfilling.

I love seeing a kid who is learning to read and cautiously sounding out words, laughing at the book in their hands instead of throwing it down in boredom or frustration. Our school and public librarians create magical storytimes and community outreach events that help libraries become important “third places” for children and families.

“If we think that children’s books are anything less than real literature, it’s because we think kids are something less than real people. If we believe they’re real people, then they deserve good art.” – Mac Barnett

Resources to find high-quality children’s books:

American Indians in Children’s Literature 

Award Winning Books

Caldecott Award Winning Books

The Horn Book

Newbery Award Winning Books

School Library Journal Contenders for Awards

While babysitting recently, the 15-month-old was a little wary at my arrival. Once I started reciting “This Little Piggy” on her toes, she broke into a giant smile, and we were good friends. Play helps build social skills, emotional well-being, physical development, and literacy. When I’m around small children, I love the opportunity to be silly and giggle together, but I don’t cultivate as easily it in my own life.  Not only do we need to help our children find more opportunities for unstructured play, we can benefit from creating these experiences for ourselves as adults.  Playing will help us navigate stresses in our world. When we play, we can inspire joy and playfulness in the children and families around us.

Play builds physical and literacy skills

Playing children will create storylines, build language, and act out stories, which all impact their literacy skills positively. Most importantly, we are building relationships when we play together. The National Literacy Trust reports “Play supports a variety of skills, physical, gross and fine motor, which will also support writing. Active play promotes muscle development, develops imagination and communication skills, and helps coordination and overall health.” When children play together, they learn subtle physical and social boundaries and problem-solving skills, fostering a sense of connection and engagement.

Protect playtime

Much great imaginative play sprouts out of boredom. If tablets and phones are handy, we are more likely to reach for those instead of creating some of our fun. To ensure children have time for unstructured, freely chosen play daily, pediatricians recommend that families limit screen time. “The younger the child, the less time they should be using digital devices,” writes NI Direct UK.

The Play for Parents Guide by Playboard Northern Ireland writes, “Don’t be tempted to use screens to distract children or to keep them quiet – talk to your children, play games, or look at a book instead.” We can play fingerplays or rhymes while waiting in line or at a restaurant, sing songs, or ask 20 questions. Often, kids (and grown-ups alike) might get a little cranky near the end of the day if they don’t have fun playtime breaks throughout.

Outdoor Play

Nature and outdoor play have a host of health benefits for all of us. Being outside naturally calms our bodies’ stress responses, reassuring us of our well-being. Children will learn the wonder and magic of nature, which will help them to grow into adults who value the environment. The concept of kindergarten, started by German Friedrich Froebel centuries ago, had a basis in nature and gardening – hence the name kindergarten – a garden for children. Seasonal play keeps engagement higher with changing environments. Summer play might involve sprinkler runs and winter snowball fights.

Prioritizing playful moments can benefit all of our lives. We can feel more present and connected with the children in our lives and ensure that our to-do lists are not controlling our lives. We can create a life by dancing in the kitchen, laughing when the puppy tries to catch the bubbles we’re blowing, and sledding down the hills together.

Resources

Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy

No Child Left Inside

Play by Stuart Brown, M.D. and Christopher Vaughan

Play Matters – full of many ideas for play

Power of Play by David Elkind

Power of Play and Optimism – October 2024 OPEC training with Steve Gross (for OPEC affiliates)