Does your child have trouble holding a pencil? Is writing his name an excruciating task? For many young writers, it is.
While your first instinct may be to have him practice writing more letters, weak muscles are often the cause of the problem. There are lots of fun ways to help kids build up muscle control, such as this energetic water relay race. Put a Tortoise and the Hare twist on the game by designating one racer the tortoise and the other the hare. Playing the game helps build the hand muscles necessary for good penmanship, and it's pure hot-weather fun too!
What You Need:
- 2 players
- 2 medium plastic containers similar in size
- 2 sponges
- Pitcher of water (use regular tap water or add a few drops of food coloring for a splash of color)
What To Do:
- Select a large, flat open spot outside for your game, such as a large backyard or park field.
- Hand each player a plastic container and sponge. Name one player the tortoise and one the hare.
- Have the players stand about 10-20 paces apart, facing each other, and place their platic containers on the ground next to them. Place the pitcher of water in the middle.
- Now show the players how to play the game. Immerse the sponge in the pitcher of water, then run back to your container, place the sponge over it, and squeeze until all the water is out. Explain that the point of the game is to run back and forth between pitcher and container, filling up the sponge and then squeezing it out, so you can fill your container to the top before your opponent does.
- Start the game! Have players stand next to their containers, then shout "GO!" to start the game. The first one to fill his container wins! Which one won this time—the tortoise or the hare?
This activity may seem like pure hot weather fun, but it gives your child the opportunity to work on what teachers call "fine motor skills", the small muscles in the hands that make writing possible. Plus, it's just plain fun!
Gina Dal Fuoco has been an elementary school teacher in California for over 12 years, and has also taught English as a foreign language in Italy. Gina is the mother of a toddler and a kindergartener.
