Handwriting Progression in Preschool

Writing and drawing are staples in the early childhood classroom. Preschool-age children will use writing and drawing to communicate their ideas, feelings, and findings. As children write and transition to the stages of letter formation and invented or phonetic spelling, we begin to see their handwriting take shape. Handwriting, or penmanship, is a skill that develops over time as children progress through elementary school. Handwriting is also a complex process that involves the sensory systems working cooperatively. In the early years, our focus is on supporting children through the early stages of writing and drawing through the exploration of writing materials in play, modeling writing for them, creating opportunities for group and individual writing experiences, and engaging with families to promote writing experiences at home.

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According to Zero to Three, children grow through five stages of writing and drawing as they develop:

Stage 1: Random Scribbling (15 months to 2½ years)
Stage 2: Controlled Scribbling (2 years to 3 years)
Stage 3: Lines and Patterns (2½ years to 3½ years)
Stage 4: Pictures of Objects or People (3 years to 5 years)
Stage 5: Letter and Word Practice (3 to 5 years)

It’s important to remember that children develop at different rates and will master skills at different times. We can use these stages to observe and assess where each child is developmentally and offer activities that will support them in acquiring new skills. Below are strategies you can use to help children progress in their handwriting at different stages of development. This table is adapted from “How Do I Write…? Scaffolding Preschoolers’ Early Writing Skills” by  Sonia Q. Cabell, Laura S. Totorelli, and Hope K. Gerde. Read the article for a formal review of goals and strategies with clear guidance about scaffolding writing experiences in preschool.

Child’s Development	Example Goals	Possible Strategies
Draws and scribbles	Distinguishing drawing as separate from writing (assumes scribbling represents writing) Begins to write name or move from writing first letter to whole name	Ask children to tell you about their drawings and write down their narrations Create opportunities for children to write their names (e.g., sign-in/out sheets)
Makes letters/letter-like forms	Represent beginning letter sounds in words  Make connections between printed letters and sounds	Offer activities that promote letter/sound correspondence Talk with children about what they will write and then ask what sounds they hear in words
Discriminates beginning sounds of words/some sounds in words	Move toward writing beginning and end sounds of words	Play games to listen for end sounds of words; enunciate beginning and end sounds of words as you model writing
Discriminates beginning and end sounds of words	To write middle sounds/complete words	Invite children to help you write words in sentences as they dictate stories about their work.

Additional Resources:

Supporting Very Young Writers
Looking at Writing: Pre-K