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Right way to write

Reading Time:2 minutes
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Carol Wong is a parent of two, an English teacher and marketing consultant. She teaches phonics, oral, reading and writing at KiddiKraft, an education centre that specialises in the early development of children. She shares her views on learning to write.

What's the best age for youngsters to start learning how to hold a pen?

Toddlers can hold pens from a young age but they will need strong fine-motor skills and good hand-eye co-ordination. I remember buying lots of thick crayons for both my children just to scribble with. Also to develop their fine-motor skills and dexterity of their fingers, I gave them lots of Play-Doh, so they could practise squeezing and training those muscles to become stronger, as well as buying books for them to trace over dots.

How about learning reading and writing together?

Reading with your child is important from an early age. Youngsters will learn to enjoy listening to stories and also the quality time spent with their parents. Helping them with writing and spelling can boost their confidence. These skills are worth spending time on at home. When I read to my children, I make it an interactive experience so, aside from reading the book to them, I ask them questions about what is happening in the book, get them to express how they feel about it, or, when you come across a funny word, say it in a silly voice and your children will love you.

Once your child has begun to start writing the alphabet, you can encourage him or her to write little words or messages, or a sentence about a picture they have drawn. The key to writing is to give children all the tools and building blocks so they feel they can do it easily.

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