Stages of Development
Pre-printing strokes usually develop in a specific sequence. However, while
there are general age guidelines for when each stage develops, children will
individually vary in the amount of time needed to pass through each stage.
The information below offers some general developmental information:
* Ages 1 and 2- The child engages in random scribbles. As the
child gets closer to age 2, the scribble will often develop a very
distinct direction-horizontal, diagonal or vertical. This is most
often done in imitation of an adult’s writing. At this stage, the
child is not ‘copying’ or reproducing a specific shape from a
picture. The child is ‘imitating’ or reproducing a form after
watching someone else draw it first.
* Ages 2 and 3- The child can copy vertical and horizontal lines.
As the child becomes nearer to age 3, circles may also be
copied.
* Ages 3 and 4- The child can imitate and then copy a cross or a
plus sign. By age 4, the child may be able to imitate and then
copy a square.
* Age 5- The child can imitate and copy a triangle. Once this is
clearly established, children are capable of learning to print.
Given these developmental levels, it is apparent that most children will not
enter kindergarten having mastered printing. The time in both prekindergarten
and kindergarten should be spent building the foundation of
prerequisite writing skills.
Sources: “The Development of Pre-Printing Skills.” found on
http://www.skillbuildersonline.com
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