Before children can write neatly, the small muscles in their hands and fingers need to grow strong. The best way to build them is through play, not worksheets.
Play that builds strong hands
- Play dough or clay: rolling, squeezing and pinching
- Threading big beads or pasta onto a string
- Tearing paper into small pieces and making a collage
- Picking up small objects with fingers or tongs
- Pouring water or rice between cups
- Building with blocks
- Peeling stickers and sticking them on paper
Start big, then go small
Young children control big movements before small ones. Let them draw large circles and lines on a big sheet of paper, a wall chart or even on the floor with chalk. Smaller drawing and writing come later.
The right grip
Thick crayons and short pencils are easier for small hands to hold. Gently show the ‘pinch’ grip, with the pencil held between the thumb and first finger, but do not force it.
Help at home
Let your child help with simple jobs: rolling chapatis, folding small clothes, or sorting vegetables. Everyday tasks build the same skills as classroom activities.
In our kindergarten classes, children work with clay, beads and big strokes before they pick up a pencil. See our programmes.
