4yo DD asking to learn handwriting

[Casha'sMommy]

DD just turned 4 in May and she's asking to learn to write letters. DH travels a lot for work and dd says she wants to learn to write him notes. (We always put a picture dd colors with a short note and "hide" it in dh's bag.) So, I'm wondering what you would all do at this age.
I had planned on waiting for atleast another year and maybe start some handwriting for kindy but I've been in no rush.

Would you put her off a little longer?
Would you start teaching handwriting? If so, how would you begin?

Additionally, what are you thoughts on handwriting? printing? italic?

TIA!

[lil_miss_understood]

I'm assuming she knows her alphabet.
I would encourage her to learn to print first then teach her basic calligraphy and, from there, cursive. I might try giving her one or two letters to write/copy 10 times along with an activity which involves that letter (A- colour the apple, circle the things that start with the letter A, etc).
I'm not at the point of writing yet. We're still working on letters.

[Casha'sMommy]

Yes, dd knows her alphabet in upper and lower case. This is why I figured she could actually be ready.
When I hear people saying they're "starting with italic" are they actually starting with that or are they starting with printing and then going to italic?

Thanks for your input.

[St. Margaret]

DD has been into this for a long time, and we mostly just do it willy-nilly, showing her own to write the letters as she asked to write words or initials for loved ones, and letting her copy. She also liked to trace for a while. Then we also found a very nice work book where you color or do a game related to the letter and there's room to practice wrting the letter, on the lines. Sometimes she just does the coloring, sometimes she writes the letter once, sometimes more, etc. She can write words now, sounding out or asking for help, but writing on her own. Her skills are still developing but I figure it's so early, it will come naturally.

[lil_miss_understood]

Originally Posted by Casha'sMommy

Yes, dd knows her alphabet in upper and lower case. This is why I figured she could actually be ready.
When I hear people saying they're "starting with italic" are they actually starting with that or are they starting with printing and then going to italic?

Thanks for your input.

Italic is a *style* of writing, referring not simply to one form (printing, calligraphic, cursive). It doesn't use the tradition ball and stick forms for printing but more flowing, natural movements of the hand.
I started out being taught the "ball and stick" letters, but then had a teacher who taught me using Italic (and kept saying what a pain it was that my previous teachers taught the ball and stick printing). What I was trying to express is that you teach, first, the Italic form of printing, then expand upon that with calligraphy (which teaches where the "flourishes" that attach cursive writing go). From there, you teach cursive. I hope that better expresses my thoughts.

[lonegirl]

I say if she wants to learn then help her learn....My son started printing the alphabet at 2.5y because he wanted to. We started with dot-to-dot letters....and he had the help of his Leapster "letters on the loose" game.

[Holiztic]

DS has just started playing with writing in rice. I love that it is so tactile and age-appropriate, and it also works well as he cannot quite hold a crayon/pencil properly yet (almost 3.5), but his ability to learn far exceeds his motor skills, so he wants to write, he just can't, so we pour out a layer of rice on a dark surface (I use a very large red tupperwear lid so it contains the rice!) and he uses his finger to write the letters. We also are really big on either not doing academics at all before 6 or (for kids that are really ready and interested like DS) at least making it playful, so the rice is perfect. If he gets frustrated with a letter, we take a break and make silly faces in the rice!

[LoveOhm]

I LOVE the rice idea!!!! Thanks for sharing that!

[Casha'sMommy]

We use lentils and rice as well as combination of the two because dd once asked if she could mix them and I didn't see good reason not to. lol

[Hiker Mama]

My 4yo dd has enjoyed the Handwriting Without Tears book. We use the first one, getting ready for school, I think it's called. We like the chalkboards, too. I like the system because it is fun and you can see how the activities lead toward better motor control and forming the letters. I printed out a copy of their wooden shapes (used to form letters) on card stock instead of buying the set. The teacher handbooks give good ideas for how to use the materials. We also print stuff out online when we feel like something different.