Learning how to write is not an easy task for younger children, especially for little boys who are not as coordinated or whose fine motor skills are not as developed.

In order to help my almost four-year-old son to learn to write his letters, I have him trace his letters in a pan of cornmeal instead of using standard pencil and paper. This writing technique helps him to write the letters in their proper form without requiring him to obtain fine motor skills first.  I teach him the correct strokes and sequence to the first letter of the alphabet and he is required to follow my directions.  After he can write the letter well, I let him have the cornmeal pan and he can draw or write as he pleases. This writing lesson is so much fun for my son — he looks forward to free expression after the formal lesson — and I’m very happy to combine both fun and school.

You can also make a pan of cornmeal to help your little ones to write. If you don’t have cornmeal in the house, you can also use flour or play sand.  Instead of a foil pan, you can use a cookie sheet.  The writing instrument can be the child’s index finger, a chopstick, or a closed cap pen.