When to teach handwriting PreK

[deditus]

I have read about writing readiness and I believe my dd is ready to learn. She is trying to write letter and numbers. She draws shapes quite well. She has good midline skills - pumps her arms when she runs. She uses scissors quite well. She has displayed firm right handedness since about 18 months old. Are there any other signs I should be looking for? Is there an advantage to teaching her now before she teaches herself?
She is almost 4. I plan on using HWOT.

[Leav97]

Personally, I think it is easier to learn to write the letters the correct way then to relearn and have to break a habit.

DD taught herself how to write lower case a's incorrectly and it has been a challenge to correct.

[zjande]

It sounds to me like she's ready!

My own 4 yr old started (home)preschool just before he turned 4 & has had a great time with it. He loves "doing school". He's learned so much in just the past few months! He's writing the whole alphabet on his own & is reading simple words... I think if the kid's showing interest, there's no reason to wait for her to "teach herself" (in fact, i'm not sure why someone would expect their child to teach themselves to write? unless they're an unschooler?[which is a philosophy don't personally agree with but that's neither here nor there] ) I say, jump in!

[deditus]

Yes, I think she's ready, I just hear so many people talking about how bad it is to push academics. And I don't push stuff, she usually grasps skills easily and quickly, when done so at her lead, so it's weird for me to actually actively teach her.

[kittie313]

I used HWT to teach my oldest 2 to write. We started them both in the prek book at 3yo and 4yo (same time) My oldest flew through it in just a few months while her sister spent 2 years in it. I don't regret it one bit, and am planning to purchase another 2 copies of the prek workbook for my youngest two to do for prek at 4yo and 3yo this fall.

[Lillian J]

You say she's trying to write letter and numbers - is she asking you how to do it or showing frustration in not being able to do them all right? If she's just having some fun trying to write some, you might just ask her if she'd like you to show her how, and then go ahead and show her how only if she says yes. I'm just thinking she might be having fun trying to figure out some things on her own but not particularly caring about being taught at this point - but asking her would answer that question. Lillian

[philia]

handwriting

I have used a lot of the prewriting skills worksheets from www.preschoolexpress.com. The HWT Prek workbook has some of the same of the exercises. I think giving opportunities for increasing fine motor skills help. Picking up beans with tweezers and nut and bolts. I like HWT but the worksheets I print off are easy and economical. You can also make custom sheets where they trace their name.
Philia

[caned & able]

The method of teaching printing and then cursive was begun in the 1920s for slow learners.

It then became the rule for everyone within a decade.

I learned to do cursive first before I went to first grade because I asked to learn. I had to learn to print when I began school.

[Bluegoat]

One thing I have found teaching writing to a young child is to make the session very short. Like, five min, even if she wants more. Doing more seems to cause more harm than good, it seems to use a lot of concentration and energy to d handwriting practice. More time and the writing begins to get worse rather than better, until some strength and stamina develop.

[caned & able]

My personal experience has been that the common confusion between b and d [almost] never occurs when children learn to write cursive first.