Babies 'practice writing skills'

14 Jul 2008

When babies grasp various objects they are actually developing some of the vital skills needed to write, it has been claimed.

The Parents as Teachers National Centre in St Louis has advised parents to lie their little ones on their stomachs because this can help them strengthen their arm and hand muscles which will be beneficial for them later in life.

Early childhood specialist Jane Kostelc added: "When your baby uses her index finger and thumb to grasp objects it is called the pincer grasp. This skill forms the basis for holding a pencil in a mature writing position."

She also claimed that when babies focus on a mother or father's face for example and then try to reach out, they are developing the hand-eye coordination needed to start writing.

As babies grow older, parents should encourage them to draw, scribble and become involved in things like writing shopping lists, Ms Kostelc added.

Children whose parents read aloud to them are more likely to show exceptional skills in literacy and language, a study in the Archives of Disease in Childhood has suggested.

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