Age 4+
Learn early handwriting skills
About this book My Second Handwriting Activity Book There are 52 basic letter shapes in written English (aA-zZ) and they are all abstract shapes. By presenting the letter shapes linked to the Letterland characters, you greatly reduce the risk of confusion between the many similar ones, such as (b, d, p, q, m, n, W, M, f, t, i, j, etc). By helping your child to start with the right ‘movement pathway’ for each letter you will be ensuring that on moving to joined up handwriting the transition will be smooth and easy. If young children are allowed to form letters their own way, incorrect habits quickly become deep rooted and can be very difficult to correct later. The Shape/Sound Link: An ideal time for reviewing the letters’ sounds is while your child practises the letter shapes. How about chanting each letter sound together while he or she writes the shape? Alliterative Objects: By naming or colouring the objects in each scene, your child will strengthen their awareness of the sound at the beginning of words. Capital/Lower Case Pairs: Ask your child to look carefully at the difference in size as well as the differences in shape in each capital/lower case letter pair. The need to make this judgement for themselves prepares them for independent writing without lines. Useful tips Throughout this book there are useful notes at the bottom of the page to help you draw attention to both sounds and shapes and to get the most out of every activity. Choose a time when your child is not tired. Avoid background distractions, such as TV, that can affect concentration. Keep it short. Ten minutes or so will probably be enough, especially at first. Give plenty of praise and encouragement, and above all, have fun! Correct Handwriting Positions Left-hander
Right-hander Finger tips 4cm from tip of pencil e
dg
ee
id rs
Finger tips 2cm from tip of pencil
pe
ide
rs ape
e
edg
Pa 30° Table edge
P 20° Table edge
Elbows off the table
Chair slightly tilted
Annie Apple Annie Apple says ‘a...’ at the start of words like ant, astronaut and apple. Say Annie Apple’s sound as you write her letter.
a...
ant
astronaut
Circle the things that start with Annie Apple’s sound.
Trace over Annie’s capital letter and lower case letter.
Aa Aa Aa Aa Annie Apple represents the short ‘a...’ sound you can hear at the start of her name. She belongs to Mr A, the Apron Man. Mr A says his name (ay) in words like acorn and April.
1
Bouncy Ben Bouncy Ben says ‘b...’ at the start of words like big, bird and butterfly. Say Bouncy Ben’s sound as you write his letter.
big b…
butterfly
Colour the butterfly.
Circle the things that start with Bouncy Ben’s sound.
Trace over Ben’s capital letter and lower case letter.
2
Sou & sh nd ape
Bb Bb Bb Bb Here is a trick for helping your child learn the ‘b…’ sound. Just start to say Bouncy Ben’s name, then stop. Keep your mouth almost shut to avoid making two sounds, ‘b-uh…’ by mistake.
Clever Cat Clever Cat whispers ‘c...’ at the start of words like cat, car and cake. Can you spot all the things that start with Clever Cat’s sound?
c…
Whisper Clever Cat’s sound as you write her letter.
c
c
c
c
c
Trace over Clever Cat’s capital letter and lower case letter.
Sou & sh nd ape
Cc Cc Cc Cc Have fun spotting cream cake, carrots, cauliflower, cow, car, cup, caterpillar, crayons, cushion, cabbage, clown, cat and castle in the picture. Remind your child to whisper Clever Cat’s sound, so it comes out as ‘c…’ and not ‘cuh’.
3
Dippy Duck Dippy Duck days ‘d...’ at the start of words like dog, dinosaur and duck. Say Dippy’s sound as you draw more dots on the dinosaur.
dinosaur
dog Circle the things that start with Dippy Duck’s sound.
Trace over Dippy’s capital letter and lower case letter.
4
Sou & sh nd ape
Dd Dd Dd Dd Dippy Duck does not quack like other ducks. That’s because she is a Letterland duck. What sound does she make in words? Just start to say her name, ‘ d…’. That’s her sound!