Handwriting without tears?

volgirl123 · January 2012

So I am in the process of comparing a lot of preschool programs for DD for the fall and some of them teach handwriting with out tears to 3 year olds. Is this something that is done as daycares as well? I know it is not done at our current mothers day out. Thanks!!

justlld · January 2012

I'm a preschool teacher of 3-5 year olds, and we do not teach handwriting. It seems pretty advanced and likely frustrating for 3's.

volgirl123 · January 2012

3-4 seems a bit young to me too. I'm curious when other kids learn this & how it is taught. I am trying to figure out the appropriate amount of struture/ learning vs. Playtime.

violaplayer · January 2012

That seems a little out there. How many 3 year olds even understand the alphabet and words well enough to write? Wow!

justlld · January 2012

volgirl123:
3-4 seems a bit young to me too. I'm curious when other kids learn this & how it is taught. I am trying to figure out the appropriate amount of struture/ learning vs. Playtime.

IMO, play is the single most important piece for preschool learning, especially at 3. Play is where a lot of the social learning takes place (and social learning is the foundation for everything). Also, in a good program, teachers are working with kids in small groups to extend the play and incorporate more "traditional learning" topics. Ok, getting off the soapbox now

.

justlld · January 2012

volgirl123:
3-4 seems a bit young to me too. I'm curious when other kids learn this & how it is taught. I am trying to figure out the appropriate amount of struture/ learning vs. Playtime.

IMO, play is the single most important piece for preschool learning, especially at 3. Play is where a lot of the social learning takes place (and social learning is the foundation for everything). Also, in a good program, teachers are working with kids in small groups to extend the play and incorporate more "traditional learning" topics. Ok, getting off the soapbox now

.

naflmj · January 2012

The program isn't just letters, its prewriting shapes (lines, squares, circles, etc.)...our OTs use it qth older preschoolers....lots of music, sensory activities and all that.

Mrs_MBed · January 2012

DD1 started a pre-kindergarten program (3 y.o.) last year and they started doing the basics - getting the girls used to using pencils on paper, how to hold the pencil, and tracing letters. But she was in an academic program at a private school, not a preschool or day care. This year she is in jr kindergarten (4 y.o.) and they do more writing activities and assignments, in addition to covering other subjects.

Because this program is more academic than other places around here, its much more structured and school-like. DD1 loves it and is doing really well, so we're happy with it. When she was in a mother's day out program prior to starting her current program, they weren't attempting to teach writing.

volgirl123 · January 2012

What I am looking at is "academic programs" in private schools. I guess I just called it preschool because I didn't know the correct term. Sorry.

UsedToBeGoldie · January 2012

3yos should not be taught handwriting - period.

i'm a former K teacher, and certified in early childhood ed.

missfire · January 2012

Our preschool does for the 4 year olds. My son isn't in that class yet, so I don't know how it works. But the preschool is very play-based, so I doubt they do it in a very academic, pressured way.

gringa78 · January 2012

I support the soap-boxer re: play. Play is what 3-year-olds need to be engaged in to learn a variety of skills at their age.

mommyof4boys · January 2012

naflmj:
The program isn't just letters, its prewriting shapes (lines, squares, circles, etc.)...our OTs use it qth older preschoolers....lots of music, sensory activities and all that.

This! I used it while teaching and work with my boys with it. They do Fundations now and I dislike it.

Colorado Babies 12 · January 2012

I haven't heard of this but wanted to mention that my daughter goes to a true Montessori school and has been writing since she was 2. They start with the kids very early with writing and letters and kids absorb it wonderfully. My daughter started reading 2 months before her 4th birthday. She is going to be 5 this month and she reads 1st grade books, does writing sheets, and 1st grade math. What ever the program, kids learn early. I would highly reccomend Montessori schools!

Rangergal9 · January 2012

I teach elementary and our kindergarten teachers use handwriting without tears. I don't know how appropriate it is for younger kids. Esp since a lot of them don't have the coordination for a mature pencil grip.

Lilystar82 · January 2012

naflmj:
The program isn't just letters, its prewriting shapes (lines, squares, circles, etc.)...our OTs use it qth older preschoolers....lots of music, sensory activities and all that.

This exactly. It's a lot more than just handwriting. Ive seen it be very successful with preschool groups when done correcty. When the emphasis isn't on letter formation being perfect and on early fine motor skills, it's really effective. It has a whole component about finger writing in sand or rice, and that can be used with 3 year olds. 4 is the earliest I would use the program with a pencil however.

sfshawna · January 2012

Our preschool uses this program, and our school is not overly academic at all. The handwriting without tears program encourages the correct grip of the pencil, more than anything else. They use tiny little pencils and tiny pieces of chalk, and individual little chalkboards to force the correct grip. Also, they do other activities that strengthen their fine motor skills, like using turkey basters to move water from one bucket to another. It's a great prep for kindergarten, but not too academic by any means.

xxyankeegrl823xx · January 2012

I used to work at a preschool that used the handwriting without tears program with 3-4 year olds.The first half of Handwriting without tears is really more about learning the concept of top, bottom and middle and lines and curves and later progresses into recognizing letter then actually writing the letters. Its not like they will be sitting at a desk writing all day. The program comes with a music cd and blow up letter people that we would sing along to and dance with. The actual writing part of the program didn't start till after chirstmas (and was only for the 4 yr olds), they each got their own workbook and we would work in it for maybe 10 minutes a day in small groups of 2-3 kids at a time. Its an excellent program here is their website if you want to look more into it.

ougrad1 · January 2012

I do not think handwriting is appropriate for a three year old. Emerson's class consists of mostly four year olds at this point and I do know that she has come home with papers that she has tried to write her name on. I have to wonder if it's from watching some of the other kids writing their name.

You really can't hold a kiddo back when they are wanting to learn. I know that her school has really gone back and forth to where/when they needed to begin handwriting with the kiddos. I am sure that it goes back to research vs. watching the kids, like Emerson, show interest.

I do believe that play is a very important component in learning at this age but, I also feel that the teacher must be pulling small groups of students within the class to work on their strengths and weaknesses. Usually when the teacher pulls the small groups of students she has the other kids in small groups in stations working on other activities. The group with her is just a station within those stations.

Does that make sense?

robynss · January 2012

I would be thrilled if at three they were starting that! I am a previous Kindergarten and First grade teacher and I taught Handwriting without Tears. They basically start with making lines and circles using a wet sponge on a small chalkboard. I would not pass up an opportunity to get started with that, in my opinion.

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