https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:42:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2354172 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:35:44 +0000 tlynne 2354172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: I was responding to the sentence where you said that you worried if he was behind, and was trying to provide reassurance that it's totally normal either way. I never suggested pushing him...in fact, I wrote quite the opposite :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2354078 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:03:37 +0000 BandDmommy 2354078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tlynne: he's not interested and he's learning it at school, so no need to push him. My question was merely wondering if other kids could write their name. There appears to be wide range of normal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2354065 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:00:46 +0000 KayKay 2354065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banddmommy: K can, but not because of anything i did. i think she learned at school. fwiw, i've always thought that daycare/schools are WAY better at working on milestones, and that some of them are totally random. like playing pat-a-cake or rolling a ball. what if you just don't do those things very often (ever?). then clearly your kid will be "late" while someone who does it everyday from birth would probably do it "early". as long as kids are having lots of opportunities to learn &amp; practice lots of different skillsets (large motor, small motor, problem solving), i think they'll be fine, and if they are "late" to do something, will probably pick it up really quick whenever they are taught. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2354044 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 12:46:56 +0000 tlynne 2354044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just because some kids CAN write their names at 3 doesn't mean that all kids SHOULD be able to write their names (even really smart kids). For a three year old, the vast majority of their time is best spent playing - especially active, pretend play - and interacting with other people. If you really want to work on it, try some Montessori-inspired activities that strengthen fine motor skills rather than letter writing practice. It's more a more fun and less stressful way of getting LO ready for writing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2353969 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 12:12:15 +0000 BandDmommy 2353969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here is Brennan's signature... Close, right? :silly: </p> [attach=5449/15/nxpp4f.600x450.image.jpeg] [attach=5449/15/nxpp4g.450x600.image.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2353799 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 11:06:24 +0000 NovBaby1112 2353799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope not even close!! She practices her "signature" all the time though haha. </p> [attach=2989/15/nxpm2p.450x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2353624 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 10:01:39 +0000 Mamaof2 2353624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: oh I know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2353618 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:59:38 +0000 GrapeCrush 2353618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He can spell his name, and recognize the letters, but he's no where near being able to write it. I'm not concerned. They did letter and number tracing in school, and he did really well, but he can't write them on his own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2353597 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:52:47 +0000 BandDmommy 2353597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: I feel bad because I should have tried more things with him... I know he'll be fine, just mom guilt :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2353575 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:45:35 +0000 Mamaof2 2353575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: I could never be a SAHM either - I remember when I picked up DS from school one day and he said 'look I learned how to put on my jacket" and it honestly never occurred to me to teach him that :bummed: </p> <p>Anyway - I am on both sides of the coin - DS was writing his name at age 3 and then we have DD who just started at 4.5</p> <p>I wouldn't be concerned :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/3#post-2353408 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 07:32:37 +0000 Happygal 2353408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: I work in the schools and it's not a problem if kindergarten students come in not being able to write their names. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2353380 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 05:14:50 +0000 FannyMae 2353380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>no chance of writing her name - but she can do an awesome smiley face with googly eyes :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2353378 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 03:59:50 +0000 lamariniere 2353378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son learned to write his name sometime when he was 3. We worked on it a bit at home, but mostly just through tracing, and mostly for fun when he expressed interest. He can do it no problem now, but still writes the "S" in his name backwards half of the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2353377 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 03:52:21 +0000 erinpye 2353377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. And the names of all her friends, our cat, "mom," "dad," and her sister's name, as well as random words she sounds out. We do not work on nor stress this at home, I do not think it's a necessary skill for a 3 year old-- she does it because she loves it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2353347 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:02:00 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2353347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She can write 3 out of the 5 letters of her name and it's never in the right order. Her E's look more like a centipede :happy: But it was daycare that taught her. I never thought to try at this age until she initiated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2353336 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 23:40:04 +0000 kodybear 2353336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>she can write a few letters of her name and can spell her name, but can't write her full name. she'll be 3 in a couple weeks. her preschool works on writing names alot. they have them trace their name on every piece of art work so they get alot of practice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2353329 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 23:28:30 +0000 lemondrop 2353329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, by 3.5 and it shocked the hell out of me- his teacher told me he wrote it. I fully blame the Letter School app, it's amazing, but I had nothing to do with it other than buying the app. </p> <p>I really never had it on my radar, I figured it was a 5 year old thing, so we hadn't worked on it much. He is obsessed with letters and spelling though, not too much into coloring except for some brief scribbles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2353269 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 22:09:37 +0000 matador84 2353269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't even begin to tell you how many prek and kinder kids I have that can't write their name. Definitely do not worry about it. They should be able to write their name as they are beginning kinder (age 5), but some just aren't developmentally ready to write yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2353265 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 22:05:03 +0000 loveisstrange 2353265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. It's not even something that's really expected at 3. C works on it at preschool, and can trace her name, but can't do it on her own yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352520 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 13:46:50 +0000 LindsayLou 2352520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom taught preschool for years, and they did work with the kids on writing their names. But no means did every 3 year old manage it. It was a learning process and they all got there eventually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352511 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 13:40:19 +0000 Maysprout 2352511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around three and a half I downloaded a letter tracing app and she got really into writing her name then. I had tried getting her interested before but tracing with her finger for some reason made it all click. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352500 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 13:34:26 +0000 honeybear 2352500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: And I think that's fine (i.e., not to have thought to work on it). I don't think that not having thought to work on it at this stage is a problem at all. I sense from your post that someone was attempting to making you feel as if it is a problem, and I think that's a crappy thing for them to do. As I indicated above, I think there is nothing inherently incompatible with being an excellent parent and putting off teaching writing (even deliberately) when we're talking about 3 year-olds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352438 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 13:11:34 +0000 pinkcupcake 2352438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, she started showing interest in writing her name before she turned 3 and would draw sticks and circles to represent her name. At 3.5 now, she writes it very well and legibly. She has been obsessed with the alphabet since she was around 20 months old. We definitely did not push her but she always wanted to practice tracing and writing, so we created a little "work space" with paper and crayons, markers, pencils readily accessible at all times. </p> <p>Someone mentioned that kids don't have the fine motor skills at 3 and I disagree. I think it really depends on your kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352426 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 13:06:08 +0000 Kemma 2352426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My girl has just turned three and can't write any letters but can recognise her name. She does like to practice "writing" but it's generally tiny, tiny wee squiggles that she tells me are the shopping list :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352417 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 13:03:50 +0000 sarac 2352417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, this is more like a 5 year milestone. No way should a 3 year old be expected to do it. If so, great, but no one is behind if they can't. My 4 year old is just starting to make letters, and still only the easy ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352373 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 12:29:07 +0000 lovehoneybee 2352373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, he's been able to for a while, and can write letters (in order). BUT he's been obsessed with the alphabet since he was about 16 months old. Like seriously obsessed. Any time we take out paper for him to color (at home or at school) he just wants to write letters. </p> <p>They have started practicing recognizing and writing their names in his preschool class, but in a very casual way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352352 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 12:12:26 +0000 yoursilverlining 2352352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: Yeah, I know what you mean. I wouldn’t worry though about writing your name at 3 – our preschool program director was really emphatic that it is *not* expected at this age at all, and that what is most important is building a positive relationship with letters (and numbers) and a positive relationship with learning and making real-world connections with letters, rather than just rote writing/copying of something a child doesn’t understand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352339 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 12:02:53 +0000 rattles 2352339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine will be 3 in a few weeks. She writes the first letter and can recognize and spell her name. I didn't push it - she just did it one day with bath crayons.</p> <p>ETA: don't be hard on yourself! You spent a year loving him and caring for him so he'd be a well-adjusted, awesome kid. He's got years and lots of help to learn the other stuff! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352268 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 11:27:16 +0000 yin 2352268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also I never worked on writing with him until after he started preschool. I wanted to reinforce what he learned, but I wasn't great at initiating it beforehand. I also stay at home, and I let him take the lead on how he learns. It's mostly play based. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-your-3-year-old-write-their-name/page/2#post-2352262 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 11:25:33 +0000 yin 2352262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At that age LO could write his name but not well. He did not like drawing, coloring or writing, and it was a struggle to get out of his comfort zone. These are all things that preschool worked on with him, and he overcame a lot in the past year. He signs in every morning as well, and he is one of the few kids who can write his name. They trace the letters to their name and most kids just scribble. It's more about recognizing the letters in their name and attempting to trace at least the first letter. </p>