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Writing is the framework for communication we use it every day, may it be road signs, menus, books, emails, social media, texts or even just a shopping list. When a child begins writing it opens a world of creativity for them. They can use words to express themselves and to show their interests. Writing is fundamentally needed for education and everyday life (Hill, 2012).

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Educational theorists such as Vygotsky, 1978, had argued that children being engaged and enjoying texts, is a critical goal for the education of young children.
It is said if children are exposed to a rich-literacy environment at home, or in an educational setting that they are fostering enjoyment for the subject (State Government of Victoria, Australia, 2019).

Children at an early age may learn and process higher psychological functions, including learning to write from engaging in relations with others including adults (Arshad & Chen, 2009).  Children learn through what they see; their observations. Adults can model writing around the home, and encourage children, to help with shopping lists, to do lists, birthday cards and other writing actives found in the home.

Some of Vygotsky's famous learning theories are the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), and the More Knowledgeable other (MKO). The ZPD is the stage in which the child is cognitively prepared but needs help socially to fully develop. A teacher or (MKO) is there is provide scaffolding to the learner, this will support the students understanding, of knowledge area or development of complex skills (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2016).

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Writing development for ages 5 - 6 explained. 

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Writing development for ages 5 - 6 explained. 

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Hill, 2012. States that these are the early stages in children's writing.

-Beginning Writing.
Children may use scribble or circular shapes that proceed from left to right. At this stage children are exploring the cursive writing, they have seen from adults around them.

-Early-Emergent Writing.
Children explore the use of drawings or letters to represent words. Children will also start separating pictures from letters.

-Emergent Writing.
Children will begin using more apparent letters that begin to represent sounds in words such as 'bi' for bye. Writing will start to fit in lines from left to right.

-Early Writing.
Children will still invent spelling words. They will start using lower case and upper-case letters and spaces between words.

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The Victorian State Government, (2019), have explained the core practises that need to be used for teaching writing.

- Modelled Writing.
This is centred on teacher demonstrating, the thoughts and actions that goes into writing. It gives students the opportunity to observe an experienced writer, going through the process of putting pen to paper.

- Shared Writing.
Here students work with the teacher to construct a written text together. The teacher is writing on the board, while prompting questions and supporting students as the text is being shaped. Because of the teachers influence, the text will be more complex than what the students are able to write independently.

- Interactive Writing.
Involves the teacher sharing the pen with students. Teachers take record of the words students already know, so the students can work with words that challenge them. This is a powerful teaching approach, to make students more aware of spelling and handwriting skills.

- Guided Writing.
This is usually a small group approach of students with similar writing needs. Students work together with the guidance of the teacher to problem solve and discuss as a group.

- Independent Writing.
Even in the early stages of writing, students need the opportunity to explore writing and drawing. This also helps them to work on their fine motor skills. It gives them a chance to practise independently on what they have learnt through the other stages of writing.

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At home activities for writing practise. 

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At home activities for writing practise. 

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- Write in flour.
This is so much fun! Just pour corn meal, sugar, or flour onto a tray. Then let your child write with their finger to make letters or words. You can also get children to use pencils to write with making sure to focus on correct grip of the pencil.
(Kid Sense Child Development. 2018).

- Shopping lists.
Having your child help make shopping lists is a good way to model writing. You can have the children re-write your lists and copy your writing or have them write the lists themselves with help to spell and write correct letters.

-Labelling.
You and your child can make labels and stick them around the house. This is a good way to teach children the correct words and spelling of house hold objects.

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Vocabulary is a knowledge of words and their meanings, it is one of the key components of early literacy. Pronunciation of words is important, as it effects the child’s understanding of spoken and written language (Hill, 2012).

How to improve your child’s vocabulary.

- Conversations.
Having conversations with your children and asking open questions, will help them to learn the spoken language and help to build their vocabulary.

- Introduce word of the day.
Practising sentences with a new word each day will enrich children's vocabulary.

- Play word games.
Playing word games, such as Scrabble and hang-man will help children to identify new words and their spelling.

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Labelling around the house.

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Early-Emergent stage.

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Fine motor skills include the use of the smaller muscles in the hands. We use these muscles when holding a pen or opening a container. Fine motor skills effectively help with the quality and speed of task. They are important for everyday activities in the coordination of writing, cutting, pasting, brushing teeth and use of utensils.
What can be done to improve hand muscles.
- Get your children to play with clips, pegs and play dough, this will help build up the strength in their hands.

- Get your children to perform tasks, with both hands and not just the dominant hand. This can be achieved with building blocks or Lego.

- Manipulation games are good for children to increase muscle strength. Games such as pick up sticks or connect four.

- Get crafty with making things out of old boxes, paper, egg cartons and sticky tape. This gives children the chance to experiment and enjoy their activity, while also fine tuning their coordination and strength.
(Kid Sense Child Development, 2018).

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Golden words are the most frequently used words. Setting up weekly golden words for your child to practise reading and writing with, is a great way for children to be able to remember and spell these words. Children use repetition in order to process information from their working memory into long term memory. This helps them to be able to use these words without really having to think about it, as it were second nature like driving a car or riding a bike. (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2016).

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Arshad, M., and Chen, W., H. (2009) Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of literacy Scaffolding children to read and write at an early age. Retrieved from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279279381_Vygotsky's_socio-cultural_theory_of_literacy_Scaffolding_children_to_read_and_write_at_an_early_age

Bilingual Kid Spot, (2019). 5 Fun Games Activities Using Flashcards for Bilingual Kids. Retrieved from https://bilingualkidspot.com/2017/04/13/flashcards-bilingual-kids-games-activities-language-learners/

CallOTChrissy. (2011, June 5). Learn Correct Pencil Grasp ( pencil pick up) Teaches Functional Dynamic Tripod Grasp [Youtube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP5htYZ5jjQ&feature=youtu.be

Hill, S. (2012). Developing early literacy Assessment and teaching.South Yarra, VIC: Eleanor Curtin Publishing.

Kid Sense Child Development. (2018). Fine motor skills. Retrieved from https://childdevelopment.com.au/areas-of-concern/fine-motor-skills/fine-motor-skills/.

State Government of Victoria, Australia. (2019) Literacy Teaching Toolkit Independent reading and writing (emergent literacy).Retrieved from https://www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/professionals/learning/ecliteracy/emergentliteracy/Pages/independentreadingandwriting.aspx#link54

Woolfolk, A. & Margetts, K. (2016). Educational psychology.(4thed.). Melbourne, VIC: Pearsons Australia.

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Different text types useful for children. 

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Different text types useful for children. 

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According to Hill, (2012) there are many texts that teachers find useful to help with writing.
Reading a variety of books to children will allow them to explore with the different styles of texts, as well as giving them a variety to choose from.
Children have different interests, Hill, (2012), has noted that boys find explanation texts more interesting for them to read.
So, allowing children this variety will also allow them to explore their interests and find what best resonates with them.

- Narrative texts are used to entertain and can expand the imagination for the children.

- Instruction texts are used to help explain how to do something, following step by step instructions like a recipe or building a castle.

- Explanation texts explain how something came to be, or how something works.

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Multiliteracies are becoming more apparent in education. It is important we incorporate technology into education, so it becomes meaningful and relevant to the lives of children (Hill, 2012).
We can incorporate iPad time into learning at home, by downloading free apps that will help with writing. Some of these apps are:
- iTrace.
- Letter School.
- Writing Wizard.
- Intro to cursive.
- Ollie's Handwriting and Phonics.

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Making flashcards with both languages is a fun way to help your child identify both English and home spoken language. Flashcards can represent things around the house, animals or anything of interest to your child.
There are many different activities that can be performed with flash cards, such as:
Scavenger hunts around the house, looking for something that matches with the flash card.

Flash card guessing game, similar to celebrity heads, children are encouraged to ask questions in order to guess what is on the card.

The copycat effect, where the child can copy the drawing on the card, then practise writing in both languages under the picture they have drawn.
(Bilingual Kid Spot, 2019).

See below for example of flash card.
https://bilingualkidspot.com/2017/04/13/flashcards-bilingual-kids-games-activities-language-learners/

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When children read books or have books read to them, they get to know the written language by the way it is written in the book. They learn about the order of the letters, the idea of writing, from left to right and about spacing between the words (Hill, 2012).
How you can help at home.
Just by reading with your child at night, and following the words with your finger as you read to them, will help your child recognise the words in a sentence, when it comes to learning to write!

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Practising the correct way to hold a pencil with your child, will build up their coordination and fine motor skills. This short video comes with a catchy song that will help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP5htYZ5jjQ&feature=youtu.be

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Learn Correct Pencil Grasp ( pencil pick up) Teaches Functional Dynamic Tripod Grasp

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Encourage your child to follow the words as you read them.