The story of becoming a writer does not start with the process of shaping ideal letters, but rather with the process of building a complex of background skills. These primordial abilities consist of fine motor strength, hand-eye coordination, visual perceptions, and possession of ability to comprehend and control tools. These skills are to be developed in a systematic manner so that by the time the child is introduced to formal writing, he or she is well prepared both physically and mentally to achieve success and not to feel frustrated. At Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready, we have a holistic approach to kindergarten readiness, and this is one of the developmental stages we highly emphasise. In the focused, enjoyable games incorporated in Kinder Ready Tutoring, we make sure that every kid acquires a strong pre-writing base that will guarantee them the ability and readiness to approach the pencil and the piece of paper with a sense of control and competence.
The initial and important thing to do is to tighten the muscles of the small hands and fingers. Young hands must learn to endure and maintain control in writing, which can only be achieved through intentional play. This fine motor strength is developed through the Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley program activities, which do not involve picking up a pencil at all. During tutoring, children are exposed to playdough and squeeze, pinch, and roll to develop muscles. They sort little things with child-friendly tweezers, weave with strings to form patterns and insert pegs into boards. The pincer grasp and the general strength of the hand arch are specifically trained in these exercises and are necessary in an appropriate and relaxed pencil grip in the future. This pre-work is in line with the mission, which is to expose the children to the various methods of learning skills, whereby the basic skills should be developed by the use of touching, active experiences.
When a level of power and mastery is achieved, the emphasis is changed to pre-writing forms and lines. Children have to learn the most simple lines that make up the letters: vertical lines, horizontal lines, circles, crosses, and diagonal lines. In Kinder Ready Tutoring, the learning is facilitated by the teachers in a low-pressure, multi-sensory manner. A child may train by following lines in a tray of sand or shaving cream, or by making broad figures on an easel, or by dots on a page to make a simple picture. Such exercises train the hand and the brain to coordinate to create controlled movement. The teacher offers positive feedback, praising effort and progress, which develops the confidence of the child in their mark-making skills. This gradual method demystifies the process of writing, and it is further subdivided into manageable steps.
In addition, it is important to develop visual-spatial awareness. To place letters in the right position, a child needs to know such concepts as top, bottom, left, and right on a page. Puzzles and matching games, as well as block building, reinforce this spatial reasoning. Elizabeth Fraley Kinder's Ready philosophy is based on the understanding that writing is an intricate combination of several systems. Kinder Ready Tutoring can develop stroke formation, fine motor control, and spatial awareness in a unified, playful way that builds a comprehensive pre-writing system. This makes children not just memorise the shapes of the letters, but also know what kind of motor planning and visual organisation is necessary to generate them.
For further details on Kinder Ready's programs, visit their website: https://www.kinderready.com/.
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ElizabethFraleyKinderReady
