I decided it was time for a space to write. The littlest ones of mine have been busy lately sending secret messages via post-it notes, cards, and scrap paper (or paper deemed ‘scrap’ by them).
With all that wonderful writing going on, I thought it best to really nurture this interest. Nothing fancy, really just a little room to do exactly what they are already doing. And a little more independently.
Our craft table is just too small for the type of crafting we do these days – so our kitchen table is where all that seems to happen. Which made the craft table a perfect space for a writing table. I decided not to do anything fancy at all, just use what we had on hand, but organized to feel like a very special space.
I printed a few things off of the computer to help my little ones remember their letter formations – an uppercase alphabet and a lowercase one. I believe I used the font “calibri” as it had the “a” and the “g” look proper for printing.
I also made Ben’s name in a great big font and printed that sheet just for him. He is not printing his name yet, but I thought I would have it at the table just in case he wanted to try.
For Sam I printed a few more things. A family page with each of our pictures and our names. At his request I included all versions of names (Sam, Sammy, and Samuel) as well as our last name. I also printed him off a sheet with words he knows, but would need some help producing on his own: To, From, I love you, I miss you, descriptive words like kind and funny, and a list of some friends and cousins.
I do want to encourage him to sound out words on his own, but there is value in him copying words as well.
Next I added oodles of things for them to write on (so they would not rummage around for ‘scrap’ paper that turned out to be a barn permit): sticky pads, greeting cards, white labels, notepads, whatever I could find.
Finally I added a basket full of fun pencils. Shiny ones, some with neat erasers, and a few with fun pencil grips.
Afterwards I opted to cover it all in white butcher block paper (I do love that great big roll of paper) so if inclined, they could write right on the table.
I hope to make some little mailboxes for the notes – maybe on everyone’s bedroom door. But in the mean time, they are getting tucked right under pillows.
I really do love those bedtime notes. Especially when written inside an old greeting card that says “Thanks for the baby shower gift” on the cover…
I hope you are having a lovely start to your week, and thank you so much for reading.
Kelly says
What a beautiful little space for writing! I need to set up a little prewriting station for my guys, but at 3 and 18 months with one on the way, I’m not sure how to keep the crayon and marker off the walls and carpet and on the paper! It’s a work in progress.
Sarah says
Thank you Kelly! I was where you are just a blink ago. Time sure flies! Now my little guys are 6 and 3 and areas like this are much more manageable. Good luck Mama!