Practice Name Writing in 12 Fun Ways for Preschoolers

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When preschoolers head off to preschool for the first time, one of the first things they begin doing is learning to recognize and spell their name and with that they also practice name writing.

This may or may not happen in the form of them coming home with worksheets with their name printed over and over again (I kind of hope that may not happen, but it does).

Hands on writing is much more exciting for preschoolers to do than putting pen to paper and writing the same thing over and over again.

Preschoolers also might not be ready to grip the pencil and be able to write in this way yet. And that’s okay.

(Okay, quick disclaimer, I know that just sounded like I know what I’m talking about, and kind of sounds like its from a teacher’s perspective, but its not. I’m a parent, not a teacher (never have been a teacher). This is just information that I’ve gathered through experience and through researching for many years on my own.)

As with anything for kids, learning to write your name has to be fun! Making it a hands on experience can be so much more meaningful.

Over the years, I’ve done many of these in some shape or form, but these are 12 ways that kids can practice name writing (at home or at school) in a way that is fun for them and doesn’t pressure them!

Ways for Preschoolers to Practice Name Writing:

1. Highlighters are awesome for tracing anything! Add in glue and yarn and its a hands on experience, or triple the name tracing fun!
2. Buggy and Buddy puts rainbow writing to their name! Writing their name over and over again in different colors to make a rainbow. Make it big and fun!
3. Another twist on rainbow writing is rainbow name painting from NurtureStore! Paint over and over in different colors!
4. Discover Explore Learn traces letters with paint and Q-tips, put this to their name and the kids will love it!
5. Jen’s OT for Kids uses glitter glue to practice name writing! (Get glitter glue here, affiliate link)
6. Practice writing their name on the chalkboard, but with water to erase it away like Pyjama School does!
7. Make a sensory bag to practice prewriting skills to write the letters of their name (from Play at Home Mom)
8. Fingerpaint their name! This idea from Creative Tots is a great one for kids struggling to grip a pencil yet.
9. Practice writing their name in a salt sensory tray! Great idea from Creative with Kids. No salt? Try flour!
10. Get out the watercolors and trace the letters of their name with a paintbrush! This is a pretty one from Play to Learn Preschool!
11. Teach Preschool has a fun name writing game to do on the white board.
12. When all else fails, break out a can of shaving cream. This always wins! Write their name in a tray! (From Mamas Like Me)

Not quite ready to practice name writing yet? Try some of these name activities to start recognizing and spelling their name first.

More learning for preschoolers:

The LEARN eBook of 5 weekly plans of learning activities is perfect for the preschooler age. Fun ways for preschoolers to learn the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes and have fun as a family! Each weekly plan includes a handy supply list and activities broken down to know exactly what to do in a simple sentence or two.

 

Get your weekly activity plans here.

Practice Name Writing in 12 Fun Ways for Preschoolers on handsonaswegrow.com