| Writing and Pre-Writing Activities |
| Fine Motor & Printing Skills Here are some activities to get children started: 1. Eyedropper paintings - "dribble" pictures with diluted paints or food colouring 2. Inkpad stamps - pictures can be created or background shapes can be added to a scene 3. Lacing activities - draw a picture on cardboard or a meat tray and have your child lace the picture (using a tapestry needle and yarn) 4.Tweezers - Tweezers can be used to pick up cheerios, small cubes (ie. cheese, meat) and games can be created (e.g. sort items by colour, shape, size) 5. Sponge letter and sponge shape painting (squeeze out wet sponges to work on strength) 6. Playdough - roll out the playdough to make balls and snakes 7. Clothes pegs - place them on cards to develop grip strength 8. Small squeeze bottles - squeeze air out of the bottles to move ping-pong balls across the table 9. Punch holes in paper (single hole punch). Make confetti, stickers, or lace up cards Here are some activities to increase your child's confidence and motivation and promote good hand, wrist and shoulder position: 1. Work at a chalkboard, paint easel or white board 2. Use short pieces of chalk, or short pencils so that your child must hold it in a tripod grip 3. Colour Changing Markers (lots of fun!!) 4. Waterpaint books 5. Dot-to-dot books 6. Mazes Here are some activities to reinforce correct letter formation: Without pencils and markers - 1. "Letters in the air" - draw basic shapes in the air using an isolated index finger 2. "Letters on your hand" - have your child make a basic letter shape on your back or on his/her own palm. Your child can guess what letter you drew, or you can guess the letter your child made. 3. Finger Painting 4. Make letters in a variety of textures - sand, rice, shaving cream, pudding (yum!) With markers & pencils - 1. Colour changing markers 2. Tracing over letters 3. Dot-to-dot |
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| These activites were created by York Region Occupational Therapists |
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