Component 6: Emergent Writing
Learning Goal 6.a: Children learn writing skills and show knowledge of writing conventions; they demonstrate an understanding of writing as a means of communication.
By 9 months, most children:
- Focus on people and express particular interest in facial contours and expressions
By 18 months, most children:
- Scribble spontaneously
- Focus on easy-to-hold books, such as board books, when not able to be active (e.g., sitting in a car seat)
By 24 months, most children:
- Use things the way they are intended to be used (e.g. scribbling on paper rather than on table surfaces)
By 36 months, most children:
- Explore a variety of writing tools
- Describe drawings and paintings simply (e.g., “that’s Mama”)
- Watch when adults write
- Imitate the act of writing during play
By 48 months, most children:
- Understand that writing carries a message and use scribbles, shapes, letter-like symbols, letters, and numerals to write or represent words or ideas
- With modeling and support, write some letters
- With modeling and support, write numerals one through nine
By 60 months, most children:
- With modeling and support, print some letters of meaningful words, sometimes using letters and sometimes using letter-like forms
- Write their first name nearly correctly (may switch the order of letters or write some letters backwards)
- Use invented spelling
- With modeling and support, write numerals one through twenty
