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A child holding an alphabet book - she learned her letters while making it!

Writing

Writing Teaches Early Literacy!

Reading and writing go hand in hand. Writing—scribbling at first—helps children make the connection between the spoken and printed word.

How Can Writing Develop Early Literacy Skills?

  • As children see print used in their daily lives, they begin to recognize that those printed letters stand for spoken words.

  • Writing helps children learn the purpose of reading – that printed letters can communicate information.

  • Children who scribble, draw, and do crafts are practicing coordination and exercising their hand and finger muscles. This develops the fine motor control needed in order to hold a pencil and write letters and words.

What Kind of Writing?

You are your child's first role model; they will learn by watching you!kids building writing skills while having fun!

  • When you write lists or notes, show them to your child and talk about what you're doing.

  • Scribbles: let them hold and use thick crayons, pencils, or markers. As they grow, encourage them to make strokes that will later form letters: straight lines, curves, and circles.

  • Drawing: draw pictures for your child, and encourage them to draw their own pictures. Provide blank unlined paper for them to draw on as they please.

  • Name Fun: Play with the sounds and letters of their name. Point out letters you see and have your child find others. Write their name, saying the letters out loud as you point to each. Help your child write their name in uppercase letters and repeat their sounds.

  • Word Writing: help them label parts of pictures or write captions for them.

Putting it into Action

  • Make it easy for your child to draw/write by setting up a craft area for them.

  • Give your child opportunities to use other art supplies like washable finger paints, chalk, playdough, even safety scissors. These build fine motor skills too.

  • Let them experiment with what they write/draw on as well: different kinds of paper, cardboard, the sidewalk. Make or get washable crayons they can use on themselves or on the tub during bath time.

  • Provide coloring pages and pages with simple tracing activities.

  • Write favorite words for them to see: dog, cat, Mom, Dad, etc.

  • Use a chalkboard or magnetic letters on the fridge to write family messages; help your child write their own messages too.

  • When your child is ready to write letters, start with them in uppercase.

  • Display your child's drawings and writing around the house: on your fridge, etc.

Here are several examples of using Writing to help build early literacy skills:

  • When you go grocery shopping or have errands to run, write out a list and ask your child to add to it. As you complete it, have your child check the item off.

  • Talk to your child about what they draw: ask questions and respond to what they say. Make up stories together about the picture.

  • Ask your child to label parts of their drawings. This will also help them understand that words stand for things.

  • Suggest drawing a story: three pictures for the beginning, middle, and end. Have your child tell you the story so you can write out captions for the pictures.

  • Draw a picture yourself and tell your child about it, then ask them to draw one for you. You can trade pictures back and forth like a conversation.

  • Encourage your child to “sign” their name on their drawings. Even if it starts out as a scribble, they are learning that they can write something to represent their name. Later, they will be able to write their initials, then the complete name.

Sources:

Saroj Ghoting
Every Child Ready to Read 2nd Edition

Preschool Events
Tue, Jul 15, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jul 15, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jul 15, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Jul 15, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Cancelled
Tue, Jul 15, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago

Tue, Jul 15, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jul 15, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Jul 15, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jul 15, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Jul 15, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jul 15, 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Jul 16, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Cancelled
Thu, Jul 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago

Thu, Jul 17, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Jul 17, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jul 17, 11:00am - 11:45am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Jul 17, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Jul 17, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Sat, Jul 19, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Jul 21, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Jul 21, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Jul 22, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Jul 22, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jul 22, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jul 22, 10:30am - 11:30am
Hobart - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jul 22, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Jul 22, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Jul 22, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Jul 22, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jul 23, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jul 23, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
This event is full

Thu, Jul 24, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Jul 24, 11:15am - 12:00pm
St. John - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jul 24, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Munster - Children's Program Room
This event is full

Fri, Jul 25, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart - Children's Area

Cancelled
Sat, Jul 26, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago

Mon, Jul 28, 1:00pm - 1:40pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Cancelled
Mon, Jul 28, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Lake Station-New Chicago

Tue, Jul 29, 10:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jul 29, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jul 29, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Jul 29, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Jul 31, 10:00am - 5:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Jul 31, 10:30am - 11:30am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Sat, Aug 09, 9:00am - 9:30am
Woodland Park - 1215 E 45th Ave

Family Events
Tue, Jul 15, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jul 16, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)

Thu, Jul 17, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Fri, Jul 18, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Cancelled
Fri, Jul 18, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago

Fri, Jul 18, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Sat, Jul 19, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Jul 19, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Mon, Jul 21, 1:30pm - 3:15pm
Cedar Lake - Meeting Room A

Cancelled
Mon, Jul 21, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago

Wed, Jul 23, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jul 23, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Munster Branch Library - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Wed, Jul 23, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
This event is full

Fri, Jul 25, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Fri, Jul 25, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Fri, Jul 25, 2:00pm - 3:45pm
Highland - Meeting Room A

Cancelled
Fri, Jul 25, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago

Fri, Jul 25, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Fri, Jul 25, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Cancelled
Sat, Jul 26, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago

Mon, Jul 28, 1:30pm - 3:15pm
Cedar Lake - Meeting Room A

Cancelled
Mon, Jul 28, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Lake Station-New Chicago

Wed, Jul 30, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room
Please contact the library to register for this event.

Thu, Jul 31, 10:00am - 5:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Jul 31, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Branch Library - East Parking Lot

Cancelled
Thu, Jul 31, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago

Fri, Aug 01, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
Registration opens Friday, July 18 2025 at 9:00am

Fri, Aug 01, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Aug 07, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
New venue Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Fri, Aug 08, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Sat, Aug 09, 9:00am - 9:30am
Woodland Park - 1215 E 45th Ave

Sat, Aug 09, 9:30am - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Sat, Aug 09, 11:00am - 2:00pm
Highland - Children's Programming Room,Meeting Room A

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