The proper name is one of the first words that children learn to write. Without a doubt, it is a milestone that not only makes parents very excited, but also children, who will be delighted to show off the skills that they are gradually gaining.
However, what many parents do not know is that learning to write the name also helps to reaffirm the child’s identity, while consolidating their self-concept and self-esteem.
Therefore, it is important to teach children to write their names at an early age. However, if we really want to give meaning to this learning, it is not enough to teach them to draw the lines on paper, it is essential to choose the most appropriate moment, involve them in the process and use a method that motivates them.
How do you know when your child is ready to write his name?
Choosing the most appropriate time to teach your child to write their name will not only save you hours of effort and dedication, but it will also make your child’s work much easier.
It will also prevent the child from becoming frustrated at not achieving his purpose, which would not only be counterproductive to his learning, but could damage his self-esteem and set a negative precedent for the future.
However, the ideal moment varies from one case to another since it depends on the learning rate of each child. Some are more precocious and curious than others and are prepared earlier to learn to write their name.
In fact, from the age of 3 many children begin to develop some basic skills such as fine psychomotricity, spatial orientation and visual-motor coordination that will allow them to hold the pencil and make some strokes on the paper.
However, in other cases it is advisable to wait a little longer. Keep in mind that children are not really ready to learn to write until around 6 years of age, when they have enough motor and brain maturity to have a certain command of verbal and written language. Whether your child doesn’t show enough interest in learning to write his name, can’t hold the pencil well yet, or unable to focus on a single activity, readjust your expectations and give him a little more time until he’s really ready to try. .
How do you know when he is ready? Without a doubt, the clearest indication is if your child expressly asks you to teach him to write his name, although there are also other signs that can help you know it.
For example, if they are already able to hold a pencil in their hand and draw some shapes and forms, they are probably ready to give it a try. If, while you read a story to him, he follows the text carefully with his eyes or picks up a book and tries to decipher the story, it is likely that he is curious about the reading and it may also be a good time to teach him to write his name.
3 activities to teach your child to write his name
Choosing the most appropriate time to teach your child to write his name is essential, but it is not the only thing you should take into account. It is also important to choose well the method and activities that you will use to teach your child to write.
Ideally, these should be short and age-appropriate activities that are fun and interesting for them. Here are some ideas that you can put into practice.
1. Use finger writing
A very effective technique for teaching children to write their names when they have not yet developed their fine motor skills is to use their fingers.
Using their fingers is not only much easier but also fun, while offering the possibility of trying as many times as the little one needs. For this you can use a base with flour, salt, sand or any other similar material or use a colored paint to write on the paper. In both cases, the idea is that the child tries to trace the letters of his name with his fingers.
2. Use dotted letter patterns
Another very simple and useful activity for the little one to learn to write their name is to use a dotted letter pattern that makes their work easier.
Read Also: Active and Meaningful Learning in Children
Basically, it is a model in which the name is written with letters formed by dots that will serve as a guide for the child. The objective is for the child to join the different points until each letter is completed.
Ideal for children who have not yet well developed their fine motor skills; it is an excellent exercise for them to become familiar with writing.
Another alternative is to pre-draw the letters with a marker that will serve as a guide for the child to repeat the line with a pencil.
3. Bet on the copying technique
If there’s one thing kids who are learning to write like, it’s copying models. Not only it is a fun exercise, but it tests their skills while making their work easier and boosting their safety.
To do this, write his name on a piece of paper trying to make the letters large and that the line is as good as possible. Then ask your child to copy the letters under the model.
Ideally, it should have enough space for him to try as many times as he needs, although you can also provide him with an eraser to correct the traces.
Once they have worked out the letter traces of their name, they are ready to write it on their own.
Conclusion
Finally, keep in mind that not all children learn in the same way or with the same ease. These methods may not work for some children or have a slower learning rate. In these cases, the ideal is that they adapt the learning process at their own pace and do not demand too much of them as it could be counterproductive.