Journal Writing for Preschoolers

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It is never to early to give your child their own journal.  For young children, you don't need to have lines on the paper.  If the journal or notebook has lines, don't worry they won't use them anyway. 

Encourage your child to draw anything they like.  In the beginning, it may look like scribbles and lines, but it will eventually start to look like some shapes as your child learns control with a crayon or pencil.  This will happen as their fine motor skills develop. 

When you child tells you about their picture or tells a story about it, record what they say on their paper.  Ask perrnission from your child first though!  This will show the child that their words can be put into print.

As your child begins writing letters, you will see them play with the letters and randomly write them down on their paper to imitate the writing you did in their journal.  Encourage them to read it to you, which reinforces that print or letters have meaning.

These are the beginning stages of learning to write, not handwriting, but writing for a purpose....writing to share an idea, story or information.