Paper, Pencils, and Props
Dear Parents,
Did you know that every time
your child scribbles, that’s the beginning of learning to write? Those little squiggles and lines will
turn into letters, words, and stories one day! Here are some great tools that will give your child the
opportunity to explore and develop small motor skills.
*Note! Monitor the use of these materials and
set rules and limits to where and when they can be used.
1. Keep pencils, pens, crayons, colored pencils,
notepads, paper, spiral notebooks, and so forth in a basket or old
briefcase. Encourage your child to
play with these items inside at a table or outside at a picnic bench.
2. Make play dough, tape, water colors, a hole punch,
safety scissors, washable markers, construction paper, stickers and other art
media available to your child.
(This would actually be a better birthday gift than a toy!) You might want to store these in a
plastic tub or backpack to make them convenient to get out and clean up.
3. Value your child’s work by framing it or hanging it
on the refrigerator.
4. All children enjoy drawing with chalk on the
sidewalk. Or you could place a
chalkboard in your garage or basement.
5. Save forms from magazines or junk mail for children
to write on.
6. A magic slate, dry erase board, seasonal pencil, note
cards, and other props will engage your child in writing.
Happy writing!
