How do you convince a 5-year-old to practice writing the ABCs?

Question

Those ABC workbooks look so fun. But all the kids want to do is scribble on the pages. They don't even want to try to trace the letters. I have even resorted to bribing the kids with candy, and still I hardly get their cooperation.

Answer 1

You know what I think I would do? I would let them look at the letters and then give them some fingerpaint and let them try making the letters with their fingers. They will love it because it's messy and they can be creative. Once they've had some practice with the paint, you can move to the workbooks.

Answer 2

Workbooks look fun? Why because they have cute pictures in them? He maybe frustrated trying to trace the letters- and bored! Try building his small motor skills by letting him scribble- eventually the scribbles will turn into more defined objects. Praise him for great scribbling - No kid wants to do anything they are bribed to do.

Answer 3

Threaten to give them whippings

Answer 4

Buy bath or any washable non-toxic paint and use the shower walls during bath time.  You can also use this on the outside of the house.  It comes off so easy.  Using water alone to paint  the ground or house works good too.  Choose one letter a day.  Through out the day have them find that letter at various places you go and make sure you pronounce it and words that start with it and have them say it back.  Always make if fun and give them lots of praise.  Bribes only work for so long.  One last thing don't over do it.  At 5 maybe only 10 - 15 minutes a day working on workbook material.

Answer 5

Handwriting without tears is a great program to help kids learn writing.

Answer 6

what worked for me was to make a game out of the letters. praise works wonders as well  threats and bribes don't work

Answer 7

Tell you child that you will take then to their favorite place if they do all of their notebooks.

Answer 8

Whatever you do make it fun - never threaten or punish.

Praise for success is the best way to get more success.  Only try to achieve little steps at a time & go at the child's pace.

Forget the individual letters, let them use the workbooks for colouring at least that will help eye hand co-ordination and manual dexterity.  Don't worry if they go over the lines or use the wrong colours - praise them for their effort.

Read with them a lot so that they learn what the letters & their conbinations are all about.  A child who knows what the letters are for has much more incentive to learn to read & write.

There are lots of ways to help them learn to write.  Make a game of it - shaving cream or bath crayons in the bath - maybe their name or Mum, dad etc; using stencils, letter blocks, writing  with help about something they've done, copying at first.  Reading & writing need to go together because children learn better when they can see the meaning of what they're doing.  Also a child needs input before you can achieve output.  Don't worry about writing on lines at first - that can come later.

Cooking is a good way to learn reading & numbers.  How about getting some of the children's recipe books instead of the letter books.

Have fun.

Answer 9

well you should be patient let the child have fun writing and don't force them to do something they don't want to do. Start out with letter soups or cereals .

Answer 10

give him candy  or something he likes! start with 10 letters and build from their !

Answer 11

You should make learning the ABC's into a little game like A is for  Aligator B is for Bear and so on make it fun for the kids not work. You could also give them magazines and have them look for pictures of things that start with that letter.

Answer 12

You can tell them that you are going to reward them with something:such a candy, ice cream, play time, or something they like in particular!

Answer 13

Maybe try and get them to draw a picture for Grandma and Grandpa or a favourite aunt or uncle and write a message or sign their name. Then have the recipient praise the kids and say how much they liked the note.

Answer 14

well, bribing with candy is going to cause you worse problems down the road, but I think you need to find a way to make them interested in it...which may be getting them interested in reading first, and enjoying words..from there you can interest them in writing words. maybe start with the letters in their names. and praise them when they do them. hugs and kisses and nice words work better than candy, usually. may be find a way to make it into a game...or a competition between the kids to see who can do the best 'a's today. or who can best describe what  such an such letter looks like...draw the picture, draw the letter types of activities that get their imaginations involved...otherwise copying lines is no more fun than those sentences we used to have to do when we got in trouble...I will not talk in class, i will not talk in class , i will not talk in class..haha. good luck.

Answer 15

5 is still really young to sit at the table and write ;)

Make it fun use shaving cream on the wall in the tub have them write their letters that way. Use different modalities play dough cut out sandpaper letters to trace with their fingers. You can also tear out one page to make it less intimidating. The color changing markers work wonders they do it first in one color then magically it changes to a different color and they do it 2x  without realizing it. Use stickers or another reward and only do it for a short period of time (5 minutes). Have fun!

Answer 16

threats work well, or tell them that they can't go do something fun unless they finish their workbook pages.

Answer 17

Try using shaving cream or foam soap to make letters. Try getting them to copy  you tracing letters in the sand. Get magnetic letters for the refrigerator.

Some kids just aren't ready right away. Just keep trying. They will work on it in kindergarten.

Answer 18

Your child may not be ready to work in a workbook. At that age they are still learning their motor skills. Now, if the child is able to do this task, then candy is not the right motivator as you well know. So...you may want to make a chart and set goals for the child and then if they reach their goal, reward them. But, in regards to the reward, ask them what they would like and for it to be realistic. Sometimes, all they may want is for you to read with them or play a game with them. Much better than candy.