Pre-writing skills are not just about putting pen to paper.
The importance of mark making goes way beyond drawing a picture, it’s an opportunity for a child to express themselves; to tell a story, to share their emotions and much more. Never underestimate the meaning behind a mark a child has made, ask them what it means to them and accept their innocent ideas and truth about the world as they see it. – Dominique x
I believe children are ready to make their mark from the moment they can sit up.
Below I will share with you some of our favourite open-ended mark making ideas to promote dexterity and fine motor skills in pre-writing children.
Many of these activities can be enjoyed by children of all ages and adults alike.
Chalk
Always has been my favourite mark making tool. It’s so easily manipulated, can create different depths to its strokes, you can add water to extend cause and effect. You can get hold of chalk in many different shapes and sizes. It can be marked absolutely anywhere and washes away ( if needed)
Chalk on tree bark. Talk about the patterns on the bark, texture, encourage the child to feel the bark, colour any crevasses. I’ve witnessed this being hours of entertainment. Add some paper can you make a bark rubbing. Patio chalk play, let the children go for it and then they can help clean it down, or wait for the rain to come and investigate what happens when rain falls onto the chalk. We love a chalkboard a Kinder Harmony, this was our very first setting and chalkboard screwed to the back wall of my home. Chalk boards have continued to be a big hit at KH. Why not make one from an old piece of wood, buy some chalk paint slap it on (just about anything you’re happy to become A chalk board) wait for it to dry then and hey presto … grab the chalk and start mark making.
Coloured sand and gravel
Look at the beautiful circular fine movements in the sand. I added wooden blocks to this tray to see if the children would make marks with them, they used the blocks to separate the blue gravel from the orange sand to make their mark!!! Another example of Mark making with gravel and sand at KH, love this space themed tuff tray!
Carrots and soil
Check out the Palmer grasp on the carrot and think of how hard those little finger muscles need to work to collect soil in the pots to plant the carrots. The carrots can also be used as a mark making tool, similar to a pencil.
Paint and wheels
Paint and wheels, what a great invitation to play for any child especially for transport lovers or children displaying the rotation schema.
Shaving Foam
Watch the children get stuck in, make sure you have a towel and bowl of water at the ready. Be vigilant and supervise so foam does not come into contact with eyes!
Charcoal
I love to work with charcoal when I’m sketching. So why not the kids, ay!
Using Charcoal to explore Chinese Writing child- led I love seeing a moody monochrome charcoal picture. Black and white create such an expressive bold statement when used for art and Mark making. Charcoal can be delicate and easily broken, it teaches the children to be more considered with the handling and really challenges their fine motor skills.
Kinetic sand
A fantastic easily manipulated multi sensory resource. It can be constructed and moulded. We added tools to extend learning. We make our own!
Pastel
Pastel create more of a impact, the hard you press the denser the colour, they also leave a lovely oily texture on the paper, great for sensory exploration.
Paint
I always find the youngest children at Kinder Harmony, love to explore mark making with Paint, it’s easy to make movements, less challenging as they can simply use their hands as tools and it allows for babies – 2 years to learn through sensory exploration.
Please note: paint should be non-toxic safe and washable, children under 2 should always be closely supervised when painting and mark making.
My son, taking finger painting to whole new (smurf) level! Trofast ikea lid hack, now a paint tray. #ikeahack #trofast Fun with a brush and fingers whilst enjoying being out of doors. Leaf and spaghetti printing with on huge stripes of paper for this cheeky pickle. Stripes of paint, what happens when I mix the colours, how does it look, how does it feel, are these marks made by me? Just some of the thoughts that might be running through your little ones head. #philosophicalbaby
Shreddedpaperandconstructionvehicles
Make use of all that shredding and let the children explore manipulation of the shredded paper. We added some tipper trucks for the children to fill and empty to supporting containing schemas.
Printing
Dinosaur printing in the playroom and attacking of Nanny (sorry Mum), just look at the cool piece of art she’s created, my daughter aged 22 Months. My two having lots of fun at Grandmas and Grandads house. Creating their own masterpiece. I love how engaged they are and how my mother and father in law have a love for teaching through play too. Printing with stampers, foam, brushes and sponges.The classic spud/veg printing Try not to use edible food, use the ends of food, instead of wasting them. Why not try the ends of a carrot, broccoli and so on. Instead of using paper, recycle Paper plates left from a party! They create a great Matt canvas for the children to make their mark.
Clay
Of course Clay was going to make its way in to this blog, to find out why I love Clay play so much visit my Clay Play Blog.
Snow
Bring the outdoors in on a snow day and be as creative as you like. We added tools, such a scissors, rolling pins, spoons, paint brushes and a few dollops of paint to add to the expressive mark making activity.
Playdough
A classic for strengthening those hands – we love to use natural dough, made from flour and herb based plants found in our garden at Kinder Harmony. If you’d like to get your hands on some fantastic bespoke natural eco friendly dough, I highly recommend visiting Squidge and Squish A mix of wooden and plastic tools to help manipulate the dough as well as extend learning through play opportunities.
I hope you have fun trying out these Mark making ideas.
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