Kinder Help

I have seen workbooks and pre-printed dry erase boards that have traceable letters with dots showing where to initially place the pencil and arrows to show what direction the line is to be drawn. Would he use one of those? There are also rubber or silicone pencil grips that make it easier to hold the pencil which might help. Can he recognize the letters? Try to get him to write the letters in his name or silly words that make him laugh. The biggest obstacle for my kids was proper pencil grip.

My son had a hard time writing and an OT introduced me to Handwriting Without Tears. It's a GREAT program!!!

Also, with writing, look at if he is having any trouble with the act of writing. How is he holding his pencil? How is he moving his arm? Is he moving the whole arm or isolating the wrist? (wrist action is what is needed for writing... if he is not, using a sloped surface such as a 2 inch ring binder will make it so he has to use his wrist more.) Is his web space (the area between the thumb and 2 fingers) strong enough? If not, try some hand exercises, such as squeezing a squirt bottle. Another good way to practice writing is to work on the movements. My son did a lot of coloring in shapes with a pencil. Triangle was side to side, square was up and down, and circle was filled in with circular motions. All skills needed for writing. Also, the language. Does he understand up, down, top, middle, etc. Handwriting w/out Tears guides you on language to help them understand how to form letters.

Practice makes perfect. Sometimes eliminate the pencil and paper! Get shaving cream and practice writing on the mirror! Use a squirt bottle to clean up, which making his squirt it will bring in that web space exercise!

You can do it!! Keep working and talk to teacher so she knows you are concerned. Maybe she has some tips of observations about his writing. Good luck! :-)

2 things

1) When you're working with him use your right hand. NOT because he's right handed (if you were right handed, I'd say to use your left), but because even with 20-40 years of using your hand dexterously it will HURT just a few minutes into learning to use your other hand. It's hard. You know if YOU are hurting or frustrated, he was AGES ago. So it's a GREAT "pacing" tool. Plus, it's useful. It WILL be easier for you than for him, though, because you already know how to read and you have a few decades of strength built up already. Just not the muscles used purely for writing. AND if your son is a perfectionist, it will help him see that mommy doesn't start out perfect EITHER.

2) Handwriting Without Tears. Phenom program. You don't have to buy their stuff... but DO watch their tutorials. Great tips/ tricks/ etc. :) http://www.hwtears.com/hwt

Have him draw the number and letter lines in a plate full of sand, sugar or salt.

Get a piece of sandpaper and a few feet of yarn. let him make yarn letters by dragging it on the sandpaper.

Let him practice writing holding a large marker, much easier for his dexterity.

Help him shape letters by rolling playdough 'snakes' and forming them into letters/numbers.

Use a dry erase handwriting pad or a magnadoodle so he can make large numbers.

Also, before he learns to write numbers and letters, he really needs to learn how to write curves, horizontal lines, diagonal lines, vertical lines... the basic building blocks of writing. I just got a writing pad and let my kids practice the fundamentals before they had to master anything else... basically like these:

http://www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com/images/writi...

http://www.homeeducationresources.com/free/prek/Trace1.pdf

I went to youtube.com and searched "learning to write" and this link was one of the ones that came up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eldP9qW4sdg

Maybe you can google and find some fun online tools to help since you're both different handed. Good luck!

Have you talked to the teacher about this? Homework in kindergarten is usually meant to create the habit and reinforce what they are doing at school... NOT to create anxiety and frustration.

Let the teacher know what's happening. Ask her what she suggests. She may need to modify his assignment.

Separately... get him some easy mazes and let him do those to develop pencil control. They are fun and non threatening and he'll learn to trace a path.

HTH
T.

Writing is hard for little kids. I don't think it's because you're left handed and he's right handed (I'm left handed and all but one of my kids are right handed). Typically it's harder for boys to write than girls. They take longer to be able to do that. I do not think he's being lazy. If you try to help him write, can you write with your right hand at all? I find it helps if I use my right hand to help my right handed ones write things when they need the help. I'm def left handed, but I can write well with my right.

I think he needs more time before he gets into writing. I don't know if that is a possibility, but I'd look into it. When he gets a little older, it'll be easier, and he will much easier be able to do it.

It seems so weird to me that kindergarteners have homework...they get them all day. Why can't they do it all there?

Aww, I feel for him and his frustration. I think it's so important to teach them how to read and write way before they get to school age, but that's just me.
His fine motor skills probably arent up to par, your just going to have to use some good bribery tactics to teach him how to write. It's interesting that you say since you are left handed you can't teach him, I'd like to hear some other lefthanded moms tell how they did it. It cant be any different than a right handed mom teaching a lefty how to write. My grandson is left handed and my DIL is right handed and she taught him somehow, so it can be done. Be patient with yourself so he doesnt see you getting frustrated. Do a reward system. Do homework when he's fresh home from school and not at night when he's tired.

Earlier tonight another mom asked the same question but for a younger child.. Check out some of the suggestions.

http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/17345812194872459265

... My son is 5 now. He started Kinder last month. He has been in Kinder for almost a full 2 months. It is everyday, full days.
My son loves it.
His Teacher is great. His class is great.
But... my son is no rocket scientist per writing.
At this school, the Kindergarten kids, DO get homework. It is usually reading a book with them/some kind of tracing exercise/drawing something/and a couple sight-words.

My son, again, is no expert writer.
He didn't even know how to write his name, when he entered Kindergarten. Sure I tried to teach him. But I didn't get worried about it.

Per my son's Teacher, she told me "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! " and she further explained that the kids are all at different ranges... and its okay! She also said DO NOT FORCE THE CHILD, (even if I don't do that anyway).
She also said, that, it takes SEVERAL MONTHS, for the Kinder kids to get in the groove of things. Like December or so or when they come back after winter break, something kicks in and the Kinder kids 'all of a sudden' seem to really 'get' things.

My son also went to Preschool.
He had no interest in writing.
He is a boy. Boys are often later in many things.

Do not compare your son to others. He is already, not wanting to do homework... because he is now "self-sonscious" about it and his "performance."
A Kinder kid, should not feel that way.
My son, ONLY recently, is really liking writing now. He does not write perfect... but it is the best per him, because he is trying "his" best. His Teacher is NOT even worried.

NO kid, at this age, will be a perfect writer.

Your son is feeling so pressured. Poor thing. No wonder he doesn't want to do it nor homework.
How does the Teacher... handle the kids?
Hope she is not rigid about it.

My daughter, in Kinder, was a 'perfectionist.' She'd CRY while doing homework. So we had to teach her to just try her best. That NO ONE is perfect. And then, she would enjoy, homework. And still does to this day.

Again, my son is in Kinder now. And he is now able to write his name and enjoys it and is real proud! He used to tell me things like "Tommy can write real good Mommy...." and I would tell him "But he's not you. Yes some kids can write. But that doesn't mean anything. You just do YOUR best. That is all that counts...." and I would show him I was proud of him.

NO kid, is an expert writer in Kindergarten.

Let him trace letters, there are workbooks for that.
Or let him color a coloring book.

Talk to his teacher and get feedback from him or her on where he is academically and where he needs to be. I know Kindergarten is not what it used to be. The demands on the children are much greater. Since your son just turned five you do have an option to give him another year of preschool and restart Kindergarten next year. Trust me, I have a preschool with Kindergarten and I know the pressure on some children who are just not ready. There is nothing wrong with keeping him back another year, it will help him to develop his skills, and also be less stressful for both of you. There is so much more you can do to develop fine motor skills then just holding a pencil. Practice is what he needs and if he isn't interested, and if it is a battle, clearly he isn't ready . This has NOTHING to do with his intelligence it has to do with his readiness, and willingness. Most boys are immature this is not uncommon, and I have to be honest I think giving him another year of preschool will really help him. It is very early in the school year, so please do not look at this as a failure, look at it as giving your son a positive school experience, rather then possibly creating a negative one. A year can make a world of difference. First step is to get input from the teacher, he could be right where he needs to be. I would suggest not making homework an issue right now, let him hand it in as it is. The teacher will give him input and let him know if he needs to do better. Children will learn to work harder for their teachers then they will for us sometimes. They know exactly how to push our buttons. He should be able to do his work on his own, and the teacher also needs to see what his true abilities are. Good luck!!

I'm with Teresa C. - perplexed as to why kindergarten kids have "homework."

Good grief . . .

I would get him a huge whiteboard, some great markers, and some clay to play with. All of these activities will hopefully strengthen his fine motor skills and not beat the love of learning completely out of him before he hits 1st Grade.

Do you have a computer? Some children have dexterity problems in their fingers or hand eye coordination difficulties which they grow out of around 7-8 year of age.
He could learn the write his name and all else on the computer.

I second the Handwriting Without Tears method. My daughter's preschool used this method and it worked very well.