"A little girl painting on a vertical surface."

Pre-Writing Skills in Early Childhood

 

To enable a child to write letters, words, short sentences, and texts proficiently from the start, they must first master a variety of gross and fine motor skill movements.

Both simple and complex movement sequences must be practised and learned until they can be executed automatically.

Children develop body control from the core outward and from the top downward.

Essentially, babies strengthen their neck muscles to support their heads, then their trunk muscles to sit, and finally the overall body control and balance necessary for walking. The progression of arm and finger control is similar: initially, a child can move the arm from the shoulder joint, then they learn to manipulate the hands, and eventually they acquire the fine finger movements essential for writing.

In addition to enhancing gross motor skills, children must also cultivate the fine motor control needed to grasp and manoeuvre a writing instrument. They must build strength in their wrists and hands, as well as achieve a high level of finger control. Key actions include grip strength, pinch strength, and eye-hand coordination. 

To write effectively, children must coordinate both sides of their bodies, with one hand holding the paper while the other guides the pen. This ability to synchronise the two sides of the body while performing different tasks is referred to as 'bilateral integration,' enabling activities like tying knots or kicking a football. Furthermore, children must learn to control their movements across the body's mid-line, a crucial skill for tasks such as writing that demands a high level of dexterity.

Initially, children typically adopt a fist grip when holding a pencil or pen, which later evolves into a finger grasp. The ultimate objective is for them to acquire the skill of using a 'dynamic tripod grasp', where the pen or pencil is held between the thumb, index, and middle fingers. This ability should ideally develop by the age of three or four. The child forms a tripod shape with their thumb and fingers, with the pencil resting on the soft area between the thumb and forefinger.

Children also require a significant level of core strength to engage in writing activities, as they need to maintain stability and support their body, neck, and head while remaining in a relaxed state.

Tips for Parents: Supporting Pre-Writing Skills at Home

Building pre-writing skills doesn’t have to feel like formal learning-it can be woven into play, creativity, and everyday routines.

Here are a few simple ideas parents can try at home:

  • Play with purpose: Encourage your child to squeeze, roll, and pinch playdough to build hand strength. Activities like threading beads, using tweezers, or pegging clothes also support fine motor control.
  • Make marks with meaning: Offer different materials -crayons, chalk, sand trays, or paintbrushes — so your child can explore lines, curves, and patterns in fun, sensory ways.
  • Encourage bilateral coordination: Activities like cutting paper, holding paper steady while colouring, or opening jars help children coordinate both hands — an essential step toward controlled writing movements.
  • Create opportunities for independence: Let your child zip, button, and pour to strengthen the small muscles needed for pencil control.
  • Keep it fun and positive: Celebrate effort, not perfection. Early writing is all about exploration and confidence.

If your child loves sensory learning, take a look at our Playdough Mats-a hands-on way to combine fine motor skills, vocabulary and other early learning skills.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Writing Skills

When should my child begin to learn to write?

Most children start developing pre-writing skills between ages 2–5, long before they write letters or words.

During this stage, focus on fine motor activities -like playing with playdough, drawing lines, or using tongs-to build the muscle strength and coordination needed for later handwriting.

How can I help my child with pencil grip?

Start by offering chunky crayons, short pencils, or play dough tools that fit comfortably in small hands. Encourage grasping, pinching, and rolling activities to strengthen fingers. 

What are the best activities to support pre-writing skills?

Focus on hands-on play: tearing paper, threading beads, tracing shapes, or drawing in sand. These activities help children gain control and coordination without the pressure of formal writing. 

How long should pre-writing practice last?

Keep sessions short and playful-around 5–10 minutes for preschoolers. Quality matters more than quantity. Frequent, fun practice throughout the week builds skills faster than long, structured lessons.

What if my child isn’t interested in writing yet?

That’s perfectly okay! Every child develops at their own pace!

Continue offering sensory play, drawing, and art activities. When writing feels fun and pressure-free, interest and confidence will naturally grow.

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