5 year old needs help in school?

Question

My daughter just turned 5 and is in Pre-school, she still has not grasped her fine motor skills, she still fumbles holding a crayon or marker properly. Her teacher is worried that she will not go to Kindergarten, also my daughter is stuborn how can I help her to learn how to write, we practice all the time but after a while she gives up and throws a fit. What can I do to help her acheive her academic goals

Answer 1

Make it fun and not like work.  Like a teaching type of coloring book or something.

Answer 2

I am a preschool teacher and what you need to do is make it fun. Also dont make it long. They get frustrated easily and then wont do it. Our motto is playing is learning, learning is playing. Make a game out of it.

Answer 3

UMMMM MAKE HER TRY...OR PUTE HER IN YIMEOUT...IDK...GOODLUCK!!!!

Answer 4

First of all, relax.  I know this is hard for a mom concerned about the progress of her child (I'm the mother of a special needs child).  A few questions:  is the teacher concerned about her fine motor skills?  Do you see delays in other areas?  By all means, contact your school district.  You have the right to an evaluation for your child -- find out the address for the Committee for Special Education in your school district and write them a note about your concerns (preschool is not too early -- the earlier you get help the better).  After the evaluation, you will have a meeting with the Committee during which they will tell you both the results of the testing and the services they will offer to help your child.  If your daughter's problems are not so severe as to warrant district services, they will still provide recommendations as to what you can do and how you can go about it (including less stressful/pressuring ways to accomplish your goals).  Even if there is a problem, the chances are that it is a developmental problem - meaning that your daughter will eventually grow out of it.  I'm just looking at your question again and I would just like to add that at some point if she is feeling unduly frustrated over her own lack of progress (more likely responding to expectations of adults) she might benefit from some play therapy.  First check out your school district.  They are there to help you -- the sooner they work on the problem means the likelihood of avoiding a bigger problem in the future for them, too.  Good luck

Answer 5

Has she been evaluated by the school?  Does she have an underlying  issue, which may not be diagnosed?  Is she just plain more interested in doing other things?  Each of these require a different approach, but all require patience and consistency.  I would start by having her fine motor skills evaluated, the school district should provide occupational therapy at no charge if there is any issue.  This is fun for the child and makes a big difference.  

I've been there and am somewhat still there.  Good luck, your daughter will catch up.

Answer 6

Try to make it fun for her.  Markers and stuff like that are great.  You also got to remember that every child is different.  So if might just take her a little bit longer for her to grasp.  Give her till the spring and I would just about bet as long as you keep trying to make it fun and practice with her she'll get it.   I always hate trying to teach a child to write.  Think about it.  I don't even  hold my pencil the right way if you go by the book, but I can still write pretty neat.  Just give her time.  Also playdough is a real good fine motor builder.  When teaching a child to write it says to warm up by letting the children play with playdough.

Answer 7

learning comes with interest.. her interest needs to be in it.. therefore you need to make it a "fun" thing not a chore.

buy her markers.. glitter pens.. have her practice in coloring books. have her trace your hands .. hers.. feet.. make it fun!..

Answer 8

Find ways to make it fun. Like different activities or if she plays well with other kids then have them color and draw things together.

Answer 9

Children mature and develop at different rates.  It sounds like she might not yet be developmentally ready for those skills, which might be the reason for the tantrums.  She is being asked to do things that are too difficult for her just yet.  

Step back a little and practice "larger" motor skills with her for a while - working with play dough (she could make the letter shapes), tracing letters in sand, painting, fingerpainting, puzzles with large pieces, stringing large beads, copying patterns with blocks, trace simple shapes, etc.  

Don't put her under too much pressure - that will be self-defeating.  Think of fun ways to practice things.   Fine motor skills are difficult to master.  She cannot master them until she is developmentally ready.  

Here are a few sites that may help you.  Try not to worry about it too much and enjoy some fun activities with your daughter.  Best of luck.

Answer 10

It's best to do things with your daughter that shes going to like. Try drawing. When she seems to get bored move on to something different. Do lots of hands on activities, make clay or putty, let her help you bake a cake. Also play hand games like patty cake and the thumb-kin song were shes forced to exercise her fingers as she plays. The more she starts to interact with the real world, not just the academic world, the more things your going to find that are going to work for her.

Answer 11

This should be something to be concerned about and perhaps your pediatrician should be advised of such things...Mine always asks on all appointments about motor skills, and movements and can she/he jump on one foot, color, make a circle, and silly things like that...but it is always asked at every appointment...

and sometimes they just are not ready and do not want to do things being told...you can try games and such and draw and color with her, which I am sure you are doing...but something that will be fun and interesting to her...let her make the decision and be patient with her while you teach her how to hold a crayon or pencil...kids at this age "ARE" stubborn and it just takes more patience from "us" the parents...most of the time it is just the child rebelling and some are slower than others, and it will work out in the long run...really...Good Luck

Answer 12

my daughter was the same way at that age then she got into kdg and she did well shes now in 1st and is doing better than alot in her class..so dont worry she will catch up

Answer 13

The best thing you can do for her is to lay off the writing and go back to activities that will help her develop her small motor skils. Give her play-dough and silly putty, puzzles and pegboards, lacing boards and dressing dolls. Provide her with lots of interesting art materials. Many preschool children are not ready to write and they shouldn't be expected to! Let her do activities more suitable for her age. What you are doing now will accomplish little except teaching her to hate writing and that she is a failure.