when did your kid

Learn to write?
I'm trying to teach my son, he is 4 years old, Jan. 25th.
And he cannot. he has recently learned how to hold a pen.
I feel like I failed him in teaching him.

My dd is 5 (Jan 26) and she still struggles writing her name. It really does take daily practice, and when she's at home that's like pulling teeth. She works at it a lot at school.

My youngest, now 4 has been tracing and writing letters for close to a year, but my oldest 'now 9' was not really able to write until he was closer to 5, and now he's my little artist who has the worst handwriting in class, lol. I wouldn't worry too much, different kids learn at different rates, yours may just excel at other things and learn writing later. Enjoy the teaching, especially if LO is willing. My oldest was all for learning even if he didn't get it, my youngest seems to grasp writing quickly and easily but absolutely refuses to do more than 2 letters a day, if he'll write at all.  

even if it is for like 15 minutes a day I guess.
\Using sparkly crayons and glitter pens helps.  

Im hopping he can write his letters by the time summer comes, I want him to go to kindergarten, im unsure if he can start if he doesn't know how to write.

My nephew is almost 6 and still has trouble. He's learning, though, slowly but surely.

Quoting motherofboys:" My youngest, now 4 has been tracing and writing letters for close to a year, but my oldest 'now 9' was ... [snip!] ... seems to grasp writing quickly and easily but absolutely refuses to do more than 2 letters a day, if he'll write at all.  "

Caleb's able to trace letters no problem, its just trying to get him to write without tracing...that's kinda hard. lol.

Quoting Momma of 2.:" even if it is for like 15 minutes a day I guess. \Using sparkly crayons and glitter pens helps.   Im ... [snip!] ... letters by the time summer comes, I want him to go to kindergarten, im unsure if he can start if he doesn't know how to write."

The only restriction to jk/sk is age, so you're good.

You guys are actually making me feel so much better. I work with my son who is four all the time, and honestly he's not very interested. This is going to sound so silly but I sometimes cry at night thinking he's behind and I'm not teaching him good enough. But we work on writing and learning letters everyday. I hope he learns how to write and recognize letters before school starts in September.

Quoting Robert and Nicholas' Momm:" You guys are actually making me feel so much better. I work with my son who is four all the time, and ... [snip!] ... writing and learning letters everyday. I hope he learns how to write and recognize letters before school starts in September."

I was worried about posting this post as well. LOL. I was worried I would be ridiculed or told that I'm not teaching my son properly.

As long as it comes, I guess there's no real need to rush these things, as long as its fun!!

<blockquote><b>Quoting Momma of 2.:</b>" I was worried about posting this post as well. LOL. I was worried I would be ridiculed or told that ... [snip!] ... not teaching my son properly. As long as it comes, I guess there's no real need to rush these things, as long as its fun!!"</blockquote>


Thanks for posting this! That is exactly what I do, I make learning fun. And that's when he enjoys it. Right now we have an art easel and we put a letter on the board and what is stands for (A is for Apple) and we do that letter for a week and a half. He traces it and we sing songs with it. I just try and make it fun.

Quoting Momma of 2.:" even if it is for like 15 minutes a day I guess. \Using sparkly crayons and glitter pens helps.   Im ... [snip!] ... letters by the time summer comes, I want him to go to kindergarten, im unsure if he can start if he doesn't know how to write."

Plenty of kids start kindergarten with never having been shown the alphabet much less knowing how to write, so I see no problems there. The only thing teaching your child these things before hand does is give him a step up and making it easier for the teacher to teach him. If your child can already write than that gives teachers one less thing to worry about so they can teach your child the other things they need to learn and the teacher is also able to give children who are struggling the attention they need to catch up. It sucks that we can't have one on one for our kids in public school but they sure do get to learn how to do things without constant supervision, which makes things easier at home too.   It would be nice if we could all homeschool, but that does not work for everyone, although all the scary stuff happening in schools sure makes the idea much more appealing.

My son was writing at 4 it really picked up once he went to pre-k.

Quoting motherofboys:" Plenty of kids start kindergarten with never having been shown the alphabet much less knowing how to ... [snip!] ... but that does not work for everyone, although all the scary stuff happening in schools sure makes the idea much more appealing."

I do agree. Or maybe private school?? I'm really contemplating private school.

Quoting Momma of 2.:" even if it is for like 15 minutes a day I guess. \Using sparkly crayons and glitter pens helps.   Im ... [snip!] ... letters by the time summer comes, I want him to go to kindergarten, im unsure if he can start if he doesn't know how to write."

Most kids that I have met can't write before kindergarten. While in kindergarten, they are taught to write. I wouldn't worry too much. Keep doing what you're doing. I'm sure he'll catch on!

Also, if he is a little behind, it's nothing to worry or cry about. All kids learn differently.

My oldest was about 3 when she could solidly write on her own (copying letters and numbers) my middle is 4 now but she has been writting her name in full since 2.5 yrs old. She is really good at it.

But the normal is between 4 and 6 yrs of age, that is what I was told by my dd's kindergarten teacher, she was surprised at my 4 yr olds writting skills.
But keep in mind all kids are different and if they are not interested in it, it will take longer. Just keep practicing it and they will get it soon enough.