How Kids' Play Leads to Writing

I’m one of 3 sisters. We each lived in a different country and this particular summer we decided to all stay at a cottage by the lake. It seems to be the Canadian thing to do.

My parents and sisters came, along with my nephew and niece, my sons favourite people.

We had bbq’s, swam on the lake, went boating, had water balloon fights, and ate watermelon.
It was the best summer. My son was 5 years old.

As soon as we got back home to London, I found him sprawled on the kitchen floor with paper in front of him to make his own holiday storybook with mostly drawings and some words using 'inventive spelling.'  He wrote this really cute story about traveling in a big car with the whole family to an amusement park with fun rides. 

I wish I could find that book. I'll never forget how he wrote 'Nrly Da' for when the characters were nearly there. 'Nrly Da' became a regular saying in our house after that. 

There was so much joy and purpose when he wrote that book. He wrote it so fast. It was a heart-led surge of inspiration from his own life.

He even drew 'bar codes' on the book so that he could leave a copy at our local library for others to read. 

As a paediatric Occupational Therapist, I wish all kids got to write because they chose to whether it be through their play or interests. Because then writing has meaning and purpose to them.

When writing is joyful and meaningful to kids, they then want to do it themselves rather than because they have to.

When kids have the opportunity to really get deep into their play, they get to the point when their play story will need treasure maps, signs, and written information.  And at that point, their play will develop their underlying body and spatial awareness, strength, and fine motor skills that lead to writing. 

Because when kids have the underlying skills needed, they then choose and want to write because they can.

Sometimes as adults we rush kids through their play, thinking that it's not as important as dong those workbooks and studying. However, when kids go through this process of play, come up with their own ideas and do them, it requires more concentration, planning, organising of information.  These skills then 'stick' more in the brain because the process has meaning and joy attached.

This is my wish for all kids.

That rather than be made to do pencil exercises and writing practice, that their play and interests drive them to choose and want to write becuase it is meaningful to them, and because their bodies are ready and comfortable to do so. 

To learn more about why writing workbooks and fine motor exercises don't work best to help kids' writing, and how to use a 'No Writing Way' to help kids write, I'll be running my popular free Beyond Pencil Grasp workshop + QA for parents on Sat 20th January, '24 at 8pm (UK time).

This is particularly for parents of kids who are struggling with sensory processing, coordination, and writing. 

You'll learn: 

*A step-by-step framework to develop the sensory, motor and emotional skills your child needs for writing
*Why all the fine motor activities, pencil grips, and writing practice hasn't helped your child's writing
*How to unravel why your child is really struggling with writing

Regiser here: www.subscribepage.com/beyondpencilgrasp

I hope you'll join us. 

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Munira is a paediatric Occupational Therapist and owner of ot4kids Ltd.  She has been supporting neurodivergent kids’ sensory processing, emotional regulation, coordination and writing for 25+ years.  She's also a home educating mum to an 11 year old.