Vijayadasami, the last day of Dasara Navaratri marks many new beginnings. According to Hindu customs, this is an auspicious day to pray to Goddess Saraswathi and children get introduced into ‘Vidyarambham’ or ‘Aksharabhyasam’ – the first letter writing ceremony.

Hindu households perform Vidyarambham, for a child at the age of 3, after which, the kid slowly gets to learn how to write, read, paint and all those practices to acquire knowledge.

However, pediatricians say that a child will be capable of writing, in other words scribbling as young as 12 months. 

Both fine and visual motor skills are very important for a child to understand and practice how to draw, copy, scribble be it on a wall or on a sheet of paper.

Experts recommend starting with pre-writing practices to make a child get accustomed to pencils, crayons, brushes before practicing alphabets and numbers.

What Is A Pre-Writing Practice:   

Pre-writing practice is nothing but simple lines and strokes a child needs to practice before learning alphabets and it is recommended from the age of 2.

Pre-writing skills help in developing a child’s motor skills naturally and will teach the importance of spacing, letter formation, line orientations and a strong grip over the pencil or crayon.

A regular practice of pre-writing activity improves dexterity of the fingers and promotes strength for drawing and handwriting.

The Role of Visual Motor Skills

Visual motor skills play an important role in learning how to write and paint as it includes both eye-tracking and eye-to-hand coordination.   

How To Teach Writing:

Allow your child to improve pencil holding skills naturally. Don’t try to correct it even if they are not holding it with certain grip, it eventually improves as motor skills develop with the age.

Colouring, drawing are not the only ways to improve the dexterity of hands. Introduce your child to playdough, beading, cutting with scissors, playing in the sand etc.

Do not expect your child to write like an expert even before turning 5. Invest in a beautiful blackboard or plastic easel and allow the child to practice on own.

Start with crayons that are slightly bigger than the regular ones.  In a large tray, pour some sand. Give a paint brush to the child and encourage to draw random lines in it.

Kids love colourful playdough. Buy natural play doughs made from rice flour and help child to roll it into lines, balls. Write letters on a slate and gently place rolled playdough in the form of lines to practice formation of letters.

Introduce books with colourful pictures slowly and encourage your child practice regularly. 

Netmeds.com Wishes All Its Customers A Happy Dasara!