COMMUNICATE
Early Writing
Encourage toddlers to use pictures and words to represent their ideas
At A Glance
While a toddler’s writing may only look like marks and scribbles at first, it does give us helpful information about their development. Over time children learn more about how print works, and they continue to develop fine motor skills. They then use these skills together to communicate their ideas through words and pictures. We can support children’s development of early writing skills by talking about our own writing, writing down their ideas, and encouraging children to write.
What It Looks Like
A quick glance at ways you can support toddlers' early writing skills
Model Writing
Label and narrate your own writing to make the act of writing visible to children. Notice how this educator talks about the numbers and letters as they write.
Encourage Writing
Support children as they explore writing by showing them ways to create the lines and shapes that make up letters and numbers. Notice how these educators model drawing circles.
Label Children’s Work
Write children’s name on their work to show them that it’s theirs. In this video, we see an educator writing children’s names on their pictures.
SUPPORTING EARLY WRITING SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
Hot Pot Night!
Written and illustrated by Vincent Chen, this story shows families sharing a Taiwanese meal called hot pot. The simple story leaves room for noting and writing down children’s own food preferences.
SUPPORTING EARLY WRITING SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Written by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault and illustrated by Lois Ehlert, this book follows letters that climb up and fall down a coconut tree as they move through the alphabet.
SUPPORTING EARLY WRITING SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
Another
Illustrated by Christian Robinson, this wordless story about a child and cat going on an adventure invites you to fill in the story with your own words.
Activity Cards for Infant and Toddler Classrooms
Part of the STREAMin3 curriculum, these activity cards provide simple and fun ways to support children's early writing skills
Wacky Writing Tools
Introduce a variety of interesting and exciting writing tools for children to try out.
Get Our Resource Guide
Includes questions and activities to guide your use of the videos, book suggestions, and activity cards featured for each of the Core Skills
