Most toddlers cannot write letters, words and sentences, but early writing experiences help a young child gain the fine motor skills needed as he reaches school age. By 12 months old, a child can usually hold a crayon and scribble on paper, according to BabyCenter. Closer to 2 years of age, the scribbles begin to look more like recognizable shapes.
Writing Tray
A tray filled with salt or sand provides an entertaining format for toddlers to practice writing. Encourage your toddler to draw lines, curves and other shapes in the salt or sand that are similar to letters or numbers. She can use her hand to "erase" the markings when she wants to start over. This writing activity provides a tactile experience for toddlers while allowing them to practice basic writing skills. Shaving cream or whipped cream also works for this activity, but these materials create more of a mess.
Letter Stencils
Letter stencils improve a toddler's letter recognition skills while giving him a chance to practice forming the shape of the letters. Help your child trace along the inside of the letter stencils if he doesn't have the fine motor skills to trace by himself. A thick crayon or marker works well so your child can get a solid grip. Let him color in or scribble around the letters after tracing the stencils. Spelling out his name with the stencils adds more meaning to this writing activity and prepares him for preschool when he may need to recognize his name.
Writing Center
A writing center in the home encourages writing by making the tools accessible at all times. PBS Parents recommends keeping paper and crayons handy for your child. Include other writing implements, such as markers and colored pencils, in the writing center as well. An easel may offer an easier surface for your toddler to use in the writing center.
Dramatic Play
Dramatic play allows a child to pretend she is someone else. Writing fits in well with many dramatic play situations. You might set up a pretend restaurant and provide your child with a small notepad so she can write down the order. The small notepad also works for a police officer scenario so your child can write tickets for traffic offenders. A chalkboard works well as a dramatic play prop for a school situation.
