|
Back to School – Getting little hands ready! |
|
Back to School – Getting little hands ready!
The return to school brings a mix of emotions ranging from complete and utter relief that holidays are over from some exhausted parents, and tears and tissues from others with their little ones starting their first day.
For those starting school there are a number of you things to can do now and throughout the term to set them up for positive writing experiences in the future. One area in particular is getting their little fingers ready for writing.
The skills involved in learning to write are called ‘prewriting skills’ and include teaching your child to hold and use a pencil and the ability to draw, copy, and colour.
These ideas have primarily been developed for children aged 4 years and older and taken from my own personal experience as an Occupational Therapist and the OT Department at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
- Work as often as possible at a vertical surface. For example, encourage your child to draw on a blackboard, paint at an easel, stick magnetic letters to the fridge or put stickers on a piece of paper taped to the wall.
- Draw dots or squiggles for your child to join up and make a picture, or draw the outline of a person and get your child to draw the eyes, nose and mouth.
- Encourage your child to draw a person – if he/she needs help give him some verbal prompts such as “what about the arms”, “what about hair”, etc.
- Show your child how to draw simple lines and shapes and then get them to do it. Start with horizontal and vertical lines then progress to a circle, square and triangle. Then see if your child can draw the shape by themselves.
- If your child is interested in writing their name show them how you write each individual letter and get him to copy one letter at a time. It may be easier to start with capital letters.
- Trace around hands and feet.
- Find hidden objects in sand, rice or lentils.
- Draw in shaving cream or finger paint.
- Roll, pinch, pull and squash play dough or plasticine. Roll the playdough into sausages.
- Threading activities such as beads or lacing cards.
- Use tweezers to pick up small beads, fuzzy balls or toys and put them into a container.
 There is also a wide range of activities you can get involved with in your local area such as at the library, art craft classes, music classes and learning an instrument. Take a look at www.whatson4littleones.com.au for local inspiration on classes that are available.
|
|
Our focus this month is on School Holidays and there is plenty happening, with both
indoor and outdoor options given the unseasonal weather we have been having! We
have pulled together our top 5 activities for each state/territory but you are
welcome to search the directory for more ideas.
First up
is NSW where we have school holiday programs running
at art schools, the museum and outdoors including Kids in the Park and free
outdoor movies by the Boulevard.
In VIC there is sports camps, Bunning DIY classes and
the launch of a brand new underwater adventure; Sharks of Shipwreck Cove at the
Melbourne Museum.
In QLD the kids can check out this these boredom
busters – canoeing, robot making at the University of QLD, Lego building and
surf lessons on the Gold Coast.
In the ACT there is Belconnen Arts Centre Holiday Arts Program, the Youth in the City program, Bunnings DIY classes and AMF bowling.
In SA there is plenty of day out options including a
visit to Hahndorf Farm Barn, the Adelaide Aquatic centre and theatre Bugs have school
holiday program running.
In WA school holiday programs are offered at Kidz n
Sport, the Bunbury Council and Southwest Montessori. There’s also play centres
to spend a morning at and burn off some energy.
In TAS there is Cooking with Kidz, Bunnings DIY
classes, activities at The Royal Botanic Gardens and the PCYC for a range of
ages.
In the NT there is the Crocosaurus Cove to check out,
activities at the Darwin City Library and plenty of amazing Parks to explore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
