Tracing letters is one of the most common methods teachers and parents use to teach their children how to write. Doing so helps children become acclimated with the motion of writing letters and even words. Place a worksheet with letters and short words in bold lettering underneath a blank sheet of paper. Give your child a pencil and instruct them to trace the letters exactly as they are. Be sure to discuss the difference between upper and lowercase letters as you perform this activity with your child.
Get your child excited about practicing letters with shaving cream. Using a slate you won't mind getting messy, squeeze shaving cream onto the slate. Instruct your child to write letters in the shaving cream. You can have them spell their name or your own. You can also dictate letters you want them to write in the shaving cream, alternating between upper and lowercase letters. To mix up the writing routine further, try using finger paints the next time allowing your child to write using their favorite colors.
Sticks and Lego's are tools your preschooler can use to create letters. Place a pile of pick-up sticks or Lego's on the floor and instruct your child to construct the alphabet using only the materials you have provided. Supervise your children when playing with these objects to ensure that they do not poke themselves or swallow small pieces. When creating letters, ask your child to say out loud what sound each letters make for added education and word practice.
Some children have problems learning to properly grip a pencil and need practice with using thier index finger and thumb in conjunction with one another. If this is the case for your preschooler, provide activities that will teach them to pinch their fingers together in the way that they would holding a pencil. Have your children pick up beads from one container and place them in another. You can also play games like tic-tac-toe with Cheerios to get your child accustomed to using these two fingers together.