Mark Making and Meaning

We know how important young children developing confidence and skill in mark making is. 
From the earliest days in Red Building through to leavers in the Main Building, we ensure children have access to mark making every day. We support building children's dexterity first through a range of ways:

• Cooking (kneading dough is great for this)
• Preparing snacks using one handed tools (peelers, graters, knives) 
• Exploring messy play with hands
• Developing upper body strength in climbing and rope swing play
• Threading beads and sewing
• Mark making in shaving foam using fingers
• Mark making in fine sand 
• Making mud pies with hands in the garden
• Weeding and harvesting vegetables in the garden
• Sculpting with clay
• Exploring playdough in the home corner
• Finger painting
• Painting using brushes
• Large scale drawing on huge paper on the floor (the back of wallpaper rolls is great for this)
• Chalk mark making in the garden on the floor
• Painting with brushes and rollers using water in the garden
• Chunky felt tips are great for little fingers

Once children have developed the dexterity then we need to give them reasons to mark make!
Encouraging children to mark make and then talk about their marks empowers them to share their ideas. 
Watching adults draw and write and seeing handwriting in the environment is important so make sure your children write lists at home, draw pictures, make birthday cards (don't buy them), shopping lists, notes for family: so many opportunities.