Handwriting and the visual motor skills needed for writing letters and numbers happens long before a child writes the alphabet. There is a developmental progression of skills that a child must master before they are able to write A-Z. Pre-writing skills and pre-writing lines are just one of the skills that occur before a child writes or copies letters. The prewriting activity below is just one way to help children work on and develop the skills they need to accurately write letters on their own.
Pre-Writing Lines Activity
Working on the skills needed to write letters and numbers involve the development of pencil control, visual motor skills, and visual perception. You can read more about the developmental progression of pre-writing lines as well as a free printable that lists out pre-writing lines as they typically develop here on The OT Toolbox.
This post on our Facebook page shows development of pre-writing lines and shapes by age.
The pre-writing lines activity described below is just one way to help kids develop these skills, while working on abilities such as crossing midline and fine motor skills needed for handwriting.
Pre-Writing Activity Leaf Theme
You’ll need just a few items for this pre-writing activity:
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Leaves (Try to find smaller sized leaves to boost fine motor skills. We used leaves that had already changed colors on our burning bush.)
Permanent marker
To do this activity, simply draw one pre-writing line or shape on each piece of paper.
Then, ask your child or student to trace over the line with a glue stick. A purple colored glue stick helps kids to see where they have traced the line. Be careful to provided assistance with this part of the activity if needed. The glue stick uses very little resistance when swiped on the paper. Kids can easily draw the glue line off of the stimulus line.
Then, kids can place leaves right on the glue line and sharpie line. Ask them to gently press the leaf down, using finger isolation and separation of the two sides of the hand.
Leaf Theme Fine Motor Activity
This is a great activity to incorporate fine motor skills. Show your child or student how to pick leaves from a branch. This allows children to strengthen the intrinsic muscles of their hand while working on bilateral coordination, graded grasp, pincer grasp, and an open thumb web space.
Don’t have small leaves in your area? No problem! Use paper cut outs by punching leaf shaped paper using this leaf hole punch. Allow the kids to punch the holes to boost hand strength.
This leaf themed activity goes along perfectly with the popular children’s book, Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert. Read the book and work on pre-writing lines with this leaf themed pre-writing activity!
Red Leaf Yellow Leaf is this week’s book in the Virtual Book Club for Kids series. Check out the ideas below to find leaf themed movement, play, development, and learning ideas:
Spell Your Name With Leaves Clare’s Little Tots
Leaf Measurement and Sorting Activity Inspiration Laboratories
Fall Sensory Bin The Moments at Home
Autumn Leaves Crayon Rubbing Mama Smiles
Foil Leaf Preschool Art Preschool Powol Packets
Cinnamon spiced autumn leaf cookies Rainy Day mum
Handprint Art Messy Little Monster
Nature Color Hunt My Bored Toddler
Leaf Rubbings With Water Color Resist To Be A Kid Again
Salt Painting – Artsy Momma
Leaf Printing CrArty Kids
Fall Color Leaf Viewer JDaniel4’s Mom
Collaborate Leaf Tree with Cutting Practice My Storytime Corner
Lines and Watercolor Fall Leaves Views From a Step Stool
Fall Leaf Color Stomp Toddler Approved
Fall Leaf Shape Match Teach Beside Me
Here are more LEAF ACTIVITIES that you will love:
