My daughter's interest in letters continues to develop. They often are found in groupings on her artwork and pretty much any time she uses a crayon. Some of it is her attempt to write her name (minus a few letters, it's so long!) other times it her attempt to write words or express meaning.
I've introduced letters to her using sandpaper letters (Montessori style) and finger writing in sand or cornstarch as well as small pieces of chalk on the chalkboard. Many of the letters she has mastered but not all- some of them appearing reversed or partially made. We used the idea of Rainbow Letters to reinforce the muscular memory needed to write the letters correctly.
I taped the corners of the paper to the table. We chose crayon rocks in rainbow colors. The crayon rocks or alternatively small pieces of crayon or chalk are helpful in aiding a child prepare the hand and fingers for a correct pencil grasp. Small pieces naturally encourage this correct grasp. My daughter watched while I wrote the letter lightly in pencil. She then traced the letter with her "working fingers" (the ones used for grasping a pencil and just like when we write in sand) and carefully making sure to trace with the same movements.
We said the sound as she made the movements (this method is used in Montessori so that the child gets a multi-sensorial: visual, muscular, auditory and tactile impression from the activity).
Because the letters were rainbow, each letter was created 7 times. This repetition will not only help her brain to recall the letter later, but familiarizes her muscles with the movements to be more automatic.
The letters look so pretty in their rainbow colors. The use of the different colors and large letter shape was very appealing to my daughter. It was a fun way to practice the letters she has an interest in writing.
