Starting handwriting with a 4 year old?

[jewel7123]

My daughter turned 4 this past June. We are currently using LHTH with additional math and phonics. I have not pushed her at all but am just taking it slowly at this point. She knows all her letters and letter sounds already though, and is even reading some 3 letter words. She knows how to spell her name and the other day I asked her if she could write it, just to see what would happen. She was able to write her name, which is 7 letters, so quite an accomplishment in my book, considering we haven't even done any handwriting work at all. I'm just curious......do you think she is ready to start A Reason for Handwriting K? I already have this to use with LHFHG, and if I start her in it now I can always put her in first grade handwriting next year. I just don't want to push too early. How will I know if she's really ready? I should mention that although I probably could go ahead and start her in LHFHG now, I am holding off because her younger sister is going to do it with her. (they are 19 months apart)

[my3sons]

Your dd sounds like she's flourishing. Why not give it a try and see how it goes, taking it slowly? I don't think there's any harm in that. Both of my dc were early writers, and we started A Reason for Handwriting K about then. If it's not a source of frustration, I think it's fine to start. On a side note, LHTH is such a great Bible-based program with many more benefits than just learning letters - so I think you are very wise to continue with it and finish it. To get the full benefit out of LHFHG, I think it's best to try not to start it prior to completing LHTH, so I totally agree with your thinking here.

In Christ,
Julie

[LAF512]

I'd go ahead and give it a shot. If you find out she's not ready for it yet, then you can just set it aside and pick it up again later once her fine motor skills have had a chance to develop a bit more. We started dd on A Reason for Handwriting K right before her 4th birthday, and it's been going very well. She did go to a Christian preschool when she was 3 and they did writing there on a daily basis so she had a bit of experience prior to starting ARFH though.

[rmwtew]

From my own experience, I say go ahead and start with a formal handwriting program. My kiddo was writing all his letters at 2. He was obsessed with the alphabet. The hardest thing for him when we started Kindergarten was trying to unlearn some of his old habits (now 3 years in the making) when he was writing. Of course, I would never have corrected a 2 year old for not making the letter the right size, etc. But, he was such a perfectionist that it really hurt his feelings to know he was not doing it correctly later on. That said, your little one may not have mastered the fine motor skills necessary to stay in the lines yet, either. But, if she is excited about writing her letters, I would go ahead and begin.

[water2wine]

I'd go for it too. They let you know when they are ready. My dd at 3 1/2 started trying to write by 4 it was obvious I was holding her back so we just went ahead and started Itallic. She is 5 now she still needs work on her writing but I don't think it hurt her to start at all. If she gets frustrated just pull back and wait a bit.

[jewel7123]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'm going to go ahead and start her, and just go slowly like I am with everything else.