Building Strong Writers Before the Pencil
As occupational therapists, we know that strong writing skills are built long before a child ever picks up a pencil. Through multisensory play, movement, and hands-on experiences, children develop the coordination, strength, and motor planning they need for confident handwriting.
Tactile (Touch) Activities
Hands-on experiences strengthen sensory awareness and fine motor skills while making letter learning more engaging.
Trace or copy letters using chalk, paint, shaving cream, sand, or textured surfaces like sandpaper
Write letters with glue or puffy paint, let them dry, then trace over them with fingers
Build letters using Wikki Stix, Play-Doh, pipe cleaners, Legos, Q-tips, or craft sticks
Use a Magna Doodle or reusable drawing board
Have your child draw letters on your back with their finger and see if you can guess the letter
Auditory Activities
Pairing sound with movement helps reinforce letter formation and memory.
Say or sing the steps for how to form each letter
Use simple chants such as: “Down, across, and around we go…”
Visual Activities
Visual input supports letter recognition and visual-motor coordination.
Play with light-up toys such as Lite-Brite
Tape letters to the wall, turn off the lights, and trace them with a flashlight
Use bright colors and varied materials to make letters stand out
Gross Motor Activities
Big body movements build the foundation for fine motor control and motor planning.
Write on vertical surfaces (chalkboard easels, windows with markers, or paper taped to the fridge) to build upper-body strength
Practice “sky writing” by forming letters in the air with a pointer finger
Pretend to row a boat with arms to practice diagonal strokes
Make big arm circles to practice circular shapes
Write giant letters with chalk on the sidewalk or a vertical surface
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