When it comes to kindergarten writing lessons, you might rightly say that there’s only one right way to write, right? WRONG! Writing takes many forms in kindergarten, from scribbling, to oddly shaped letters, to whole words. Maybe even complete sentences (unlike this one). What’s most important at that age is getting kids to understand that they can express ideas without actually talking. Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ about! And by writing, I don’t mean penmanship. Neatness and the ... Read More >>>

I swear, if I want to teach my kid something I absolutely must make it into a game or sneak it in their day disguised as some other exciting activity. Trying to develop pre-writing skills for preschoolers is no different, and I have a few activities that I’ve used in the past that made me feel good about encouraging my kid to be a better writer, but didn’t bore him to tears in the process. Try some of these out and you just might have the next Shakespeare on your hands! 1. Get messy with ... Read More >>>

One of my sons detests writing. He can read and listen to lessons all day, but when it comes time to write, he enters battle mode. After all, he doesn’t need to learn how to write to play video games, send a message to his Mamo, or demand to know what’s for supper (maybe I should make written requests a thing, ha!). But we can show them that learning to write is about more than putting pencil to paper. It is about forming ideas and using words effectively for a variety of purposes. Kids ... Read More >>>

Preschoolers are the most curious creatures I have ever met. They constantly push their boundaries (and my buttons in the process). Now, I know I’m not the only one who has had to take a few minutes to compose myself before screaming my head off at some masterpiece on the newly plastered wall. Yes - that bittersweet moment when you see that proud look of achievement on your child’s face and that big purple, pink and sparkly work of art which you know will take hours of useless scrubbing. ... Read More >>>

I like to give my kiddos the best head start in school. This usually involves me yelling information at them at any hint of an opportunity. That woman loudly chanting aisle names and numbers at the grocery store? That’s me. I’m teaching my kids about reading with a purpose. Or I’m acting crazy. But when it comes to writing — well, let's just say I overlook it in my get-it-all-done-now flurry. When we finally make it home, the thought of monitoring sharp writing utensils contrasts ... Read More >>>

When the newly sharpened pencils make their debut, you swear you see your young writer avert his gaze and try to find the quickest exit. It’s not that writing itself has him down, it’s that at this stage, paper quickly follows pencil, which tends to signal stranded sit-down time. Use the following kindergarten writing activities to turn an oft-dreaded task on its head. After a few of these, your little one will be clamoring to write. 1. Shaving cream writing The first time I tried to get ... Read More >>>

We know that most of your days are filled with sparkling children and made-from-scratch meals (right?). But then there are those other days when the only reason you crawled out of bed is because chubby preschool fingers pried your eyelids open to announce the sun was almost awake. On good days you have time to grab the manipulatives and set out a buffet of writing activities, but today is not that day. The good news is that we have a whole secret closet full of helpful tips for the ... Read More >>>