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<p>DS was in a toddler Montessori program last year and started in Primary this year when he was 2 years, 8 months. He will turn 3 tomorrow. 3-4 weeks ago I met with his teacher for a parent/teacher conference. She shared some things that I wasn't surprised to hear, and even some of his accomplishments that I had no idea about. All in all it was a good conference. However, I've been thinking about one thing she mentioned.</p>
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<p>She said that DS has begun word building with words like rat, fan, etc (which I had no idea). She said that most children, after building the word would then write it down on paper. DS, though just isn't there yet with writing. She sends him papers weekly of him tracing his name, as well as other words pertaining to whatever he studied that week. She said that "he's a good little tracer... when he wants to be." He just doesn't have much interest in it right now. I don't see that as a big deal because he's really not even 3 yet. She said that while his intellectual abilities might be more advanced, his fine motor skills are that of a 3 year old boy. She said that he needs to work on his pincer grip still. My impression is that she's just encouraging him to keep trying to trace (an activity I don't think he is particularly interested in). She did say that one of his favorite activities is forming the letter shapes out of playdoh. She said occasionally he is "willing" to write on the chalkboard, but more often ends up using the materials inappropriately and making a mess with the chalk dust. He does not hold a pencil/crayon/marker appropriately, but rather holds it with a fist grip. I haven't seen him doing any sort of sewing (like he had begun in his previous toddler program) and thought that might be something interesting to help him fine tune those skills, with the end product as motivation to keep trying. I don't think he's very interested in puzzles, at least he's not at home, so knobby puzzles don't really entice him much.</p>
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<p>He really just wants to read. He sounds out words, builds words, etc. He just doesn't care about writing. I wanted to put together my ideas and talk to his teacher again about what she's doing to encourage him to work on those fine motor skills, without stifling his strong desire to learn to read. He is very focus when interested, but quick to become his own entertainment if he's board. I'd really like some insight into what works might be interesting to DS, while strengthening his pincer grip and fine motor skills. Thanks in advance.
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<p>She said that DS has begun word building with words like rat, fan, etc (which I had no idea). She said that most children, after building the word would then write it down on paper. DS, though just isn't there yet with writing. She sends him papers weekly of him tracing his name, as well as other words pertaining to whatever he studied that week. She said that "he's a good little tracer... when he wants to be." He just doesn't have much interest in it right now. I don't see that as a big deal because he's really not even 3 yet. She said that while his intellectual abilities might be more advanced, his fine motor skills are that of a 3 year old boy. She said that he needs to work on his pincer grip still. My impression is that she's just encouraging him to keep trying to trace (an activity I don't think he is particularly interested in). She did say that one of his favorite activities is forming the letter shapes out of playdoh. She said occasionally he is "willing" to write on the chalkboard, but more often ends up using the materials inappropriately and making a mess with the chalk dust. He does not hold a pencil/crayon/marker appropriately, but rather holds it with a fist grip. I haven't seen him doing any sort of sewing (like he had begun in his previous toddler program) and thought that might be something interesting to help him fine tune those skills, with the end product as motivation to keep trying. I don't think he's very interested in puzzles, at least he's not at home, so knobby puzzles don't really entice him much.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He really just wants to read. He sounds out words, builds words, etc. He just doesn't care about writing. I wanted to put together my ideas and talk to his teacher again about what she's doing to encourage him to work on those fine motor skills, without stifling his strong desire to learn to read. He is very focus when interested, but quick to become his own entertainment if he's board. I'd really like some insight into what works might be interesting to DS, while strengthening his pincer grip and fine motor skills. Thanks in advance.
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