For our arts/craft time on Wednesday, January 16th
the children were allowed to choose from a variety of shape activties. They were either able to choose shape stencils to trace and color in, the adhesive shapes to put on paper and do anything of their choice, or there was the option of making a Shape Person. It was fun to see what each child chose, and to have them excited to work on and finish their own chosen project.
The amount of concentration that goes into this time of our day as each child is so intent on what they are doing, is priceless to see. I especially love to see and catch with a picture the look of each child concentrating - a tongue pushed a bit out while deep in thought, a furrowed brow, pursed lips, or a look heavenward as if saying, 'Oh, what do I do now?!'
I've noticed that within the start of this winter semester some of the children are
more comfortable with holding crayons or writing utensils - not just to color - but they are attempting to write a letter or two, or even their full name. Again, this is not something that I am focusing on in class, and teaching them - each child will feel comfortable with starting to write within their own time frame. However, as we talked about (I hope I remembered to mention this to everyone - but I'm writing it here if I did forget) during Parent/Teacher conference in December, a recommended activity to help preschool children of these age master how to hold a writing utensil,and gain control of what they are drawing - is to use stencils. It allows the children to draw but guides them to stay within the framework of the stencil, and then as they color that shape in they are again mastering the control of where their writing utensil moves, so that bit by bit it becomes easier for them to work at moving the pencil or crayon in little movements which aids as they learn the alphabet, their name and other beginning words. I truly believe that if you want to help your child with their writing, have them practice with stencils or even
coloring pictures as they trace the outside of a picture and then work at coloring in and staying in the lines. Again - it's not the "staying in the lines" for the sake of the picture that is what we are working on, but learning to control a writing utensil which controls and allows them to master the small details of writing letters and numbers! Try it out at home and see what you think!
the children were allowed to choose from a variety of shape activties. They were either able to choose shape stencils to trace and color in, the adhesive shapes to put on paper and do anything of their choice, or there was the option of making a Shape Person. It was fun to see what each child chose, and to have them excited to work on and finish their own chosen project. 
The amount of concentration that goes into this time of our day as each child is so intent on what they are doing, is priceless to see. I especially love to see and catch with a picture the look of each child concentrating - a tongue pushed a bit out while deep in thought, a furrowed brow, pursed lips, or a look heavenward as if saying, 'Oh, what do I do now?!'
more comfortable with holding crayons or writing utensils - not just to color - but they are attempting to write a letter or two, or even their full name. Again, this is not something that I am focusing on in class, and teaching them - each child will feel comfortable with starting to write within their own time frame. However, as we talked about (I hope I remembered to mention this to everyone - but I'm writing it here if I did forget) during Parent/Teacher conference in December, a recommended activity to help preschool children of these age master how to hold a writing utensil,and gain control of what they are drawing - is to use stencils. It allows the children to draw but guides them to stay within the framework of the stencil, and then as they color that shape in they are again mastering the control of where their writing utensil moves, so that bit by bit it becomes easier for them to work at moving the pencil or crayon in little movements which aids as they learn the alphabet, their name and other beginning words. I truly believe that if you want to help your child with their writing, have them practice with stencils or even 
coloring pictures as they trace the outside of a picture and then work at coloring in and staying in the lines. Again - it's not the "staying in the lines" for the sake of the picture that is what we are working on, but learning to control a writing utensil which controls and allows them to master the small details of writing letters and numbers! Try it out at home and see what you think!
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