Can computers and tablets render old fashioned pen and papers obsolete?

Not just yet, according to research about early childhood development. Not only does a writing utensil increase your child’s fine motor skills, but it can also boost brain development, composition, and expression.

In honor of National Handwriting Day on January 23, let’s explore the different ways you and your child (or children) can have a great time learning to form letters and increase their learning power.

Read on to learn about fun handwriting activities for kids in Pre-K to up to 3rd-grade!

Pre-K and Kindergarten: Master the Tools of Writing

In Pre-K, it’s important to start with fine motor skills activities to encourage your child to hold a pencil or writing utensil correctly. Try to incorporate smaller writing utensils into your child’s routine instead of chubby crayons as soon as you can! Is your child not enthused about using writing utensils? Engage in the following fun activities that your Pre-K or Kindergarteners will love:

Sensory Writing Play

Pull out a sensory bin, and fill it with a shallow layer of sand. Show your child simple alphabet letters, and ask them to “write” them in the sand with their fingers. This will aid your child in remembering the specific shapes letters take on.

Finger Paint the Alphabet

Who can resist finger paint? It’s time to don an apron, lay down newspaper, and start painting with beautiful brightly-colored paints! Have your child imitate letters from the alphabet or write their names with their fingers. (Hint: an art easel makes cleanup easy.)

1st Grade-2nd Grade: Start Expanding Story Skills

At the first grade stage, don’t sweat the punctuation and spelling skills. At this point, children will often write words the way they hear them. Sometimes, they guess correctly–and sometimes, they don’t. Instead, encourage kids to engage in daily writing activities, and start to engage in different simple forms of writing.

Write a Grocery List

Remember when even writing a grocery list seemed like a challenge? Well, kiddos in 1st grade rise to the occasion, particularly when there’s a purpose to writing. Have your child write and sound out words as much as they can, then head to the grocery store together and have them read you the list.

Write Letters and Notes

Who doesn’t like receiving a handwritten note in the mail? It’s more meaningful than comments, emails, and texts because it takes a lot more effort. Help your child write a letter to a friend or relative, or write thank-you notes that will cultivate a sense of gratefulness!

2nd Grade-3rd Grade: Explore New Kinds of Writing

Now’s the time to expand your child’s view on writing–and what they’re capable of creating. By now, your child is regularly exposed to chapter books, graphic novels, poems, and other forms of writing. It’s time to tackle some new writing styles!

Write a Review

Have your child write any kind of review they wish–whether it’s for a toy that was purchased online, a book she just read, or a movie you both saw together. This is a great opportunity to delve into a more critical thought process. (Don’t forget the star rating!)

Write a Graphic Novel

Graphic novels have always been pretty popular, but recently, they’ve made big waves in children’s books. (Ever heard of a little book series called Diary of a Wimpy Kid?) This may take longer to create than a regular book, since artwork is required, but the end results are well worth it. The best part? All you need is plain white paper, pencils or markers, and staples to bind it.

You can display your child’s writing works alongside other classic books on your double-sided book display, and encourage them to continue creating more. For older children, take written work a step further, and use a book kit.

Want more information to help you boost your child’s education the fun way? Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest ECR4Kids news and ideas.