Here, you can grab a free set of Spring list writing prompts to use in handwriting practice. If working on handwriting is a task you are focusing on with kids, then using list writing as a tool is the way to go. Writing in list format helps kids focus on a shorter writing task, so they can focus on the letter formation, space, size, and accuracy. While writing in sentences definitely is a necessary next step, using list writing in addressing handwriting issues can be motivating and fun way to work on difficult skills with kids.
Spring Writing Prompts
If you are like my kids, they start thinking about ice cream as soon as Spring hits. They love to see the local ice cream shop open after the winter break this time of year! So, a fun prompt like our ice cream writing is a perfect fit!
Other Spring writing prompts can be lists of things or open ended prompts. Think about things like:
- What do you like to do in the Spring?
- What is your favorite Spring holiday and why?
- What animals do you see in the Spring, and where do you see them?
- Describe your ideal Spring day. What would you do?
- What Spring flower do you find most beautiful or interesting?
- How does the weather change in your area during Spring, and how does it affect you?
- What are some Spring traditions or celebrations you know of or participate in?
- Write about a memorable Spring experience from your past.
- How do you see the community or environment changing around you during Spring?
- What Spring foods are you most excited to eat, and why?
List Writing
There are a few reasons why writing in lists can be beneficial to children working on handwriting skills. Let’s explore the concept of list writing a bit more.
Writing lists is shorter! For kids that struggle with handwriting, it can be hard to get them to sit and concentrate on writing practice. Writing lists is a much shorter writing prompt, and kids see that they have only a certain number of items to actually write. This can help them focus on making those limited number of writing items in their neatest handwriting.
List writing is organized! Children struggling with spatial awareness and other organizational issues might see a page of writing paper and visually fall apart at the sight of a page full of lines. An empty journal page or loose-leaf paper can be overwhelming! Where to start writing, where to end a sentence to fit the word in…how much to write…all of these are going through a child’s head when they have a page to fill in. So, you might get super quick and sloppy writing just so they can finish the job. Sound familiar?
List writing is motivating! When kids write a list of words or phrases, they can come up with words to write on their own. They can complete the writing task as a sort of brain teaser. The nice thing about using lists as a writing prompt is that kids can choose the topic, too. Do they really like sports? Use that as a meaningful and motivating topic to write a list about. There are endless lists that can be written about.
To take handwriting practice to the next level, check out our Interest-Based Writing Prompts Packet. It’s 150 interest-based list writing prompts that can focus on a child’s interests to make handwriting practice motivating and meaningful.
List writing is progressive! By this, I mean that moving to the next step of words, to phrases, to sentences, to paragraphs is a progressive sequence. Kids can start at the beginning of this progression by writing lists of words while concentrating on legibility: letter formation, line use, spacing, sizing, and margin use. Then, you can ask them to write two word phrases. Then a longer phrase. Then a list of sentences. Now, can they put that list of sentences into paragraph form? The use of lists to practice handwriting can really help with carryover of skills, too!
Free Spring List Writing Prompts
So, what do you think? Would you like to try list writing as a tool to promote handwriting skill carryover?
Below, you can grab a free printable set of writing lists with a Spring theme. These lists are formatted to include very basic writing spaces in the way of a rectangle block as the writing area. This way, you can use the writing pages with a variety of ages and writing abilities. Some kids might just need to work on writing in a given space. For others, you can add a middle line. Still others may need a highlighted lower line. You could even add a LegiLiner stamp lines to the blocks, or WooTape to the spaces.
To grab this set of Spring writing prompts, enter your email into the form below.
NOTE: Please use a personal email address. Emails on a school district or university server (emails ending with .org, .ed, .edu, .unv etc. may be blocked by your organizations security wall.
Want more free Spring Printables? Try these:
- Free Spring Memory Game
- Free Spring Sensory Stations (sensory path printables)
- Free Spring Heavy Work Cards
- Free Spring Fine Motor Cootie Catcher
Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.
Spring Fine Motor Kit
Score Fine Motor Tools and resources and help kids build the skills they need to thrive!
Developing hand strength, dexterity, dexterity, precision skills, and eye-hand coordination skills that kids need for holding and writing with a pencil, coloring, and manipulating small objects in every day task doesn’t need to be difficult. The Spring Fine Motor Kit includes 100 pages of fine motor activities, worksheets, crafts, and more:
- Lacing cards
- Sensory bin cards
- Hole punch activities
- Pencil control worksheets
- Play dough mats
- Write the Room cards
- Modified paper
- Sticker activities
- MUCH MORE
Click here to add this resource set to your therapy toolbox.
Grab your copy of the Spring Fine Motor Kit and build coordination, strength, and endurance in fun and creative activities. Click here to add this resource set to your therapy toolbox.
