Throughout the Early Years, children are encouraged to participate in a range of fine motor activities that develop:

• their manipulative skills
• a dominant hand
• the ability to use both hands together

Introducing Pre-writing Patterns for 3 to 5 year olds which aids the smooth transition to writing alphabet letters. Pre-writing patterns presents a simple, systematic and fun approach for teaching the foundation skills that are necessary for fluent handwriting. This resource for parents and teachers provides information on posture, grasps, pencil control and pre-writing patterns. The manual outlines big body movements, art activities and pre-writing pattern worksheets. It outlines six basic movements that are essential for children to learn the pre-writing patterns used to make pictures and then combined to make letters and numbers.

The six basic patterns that form the basis of all alphabet letters are:

• Sideways, sideways left to right.
• Tall lines and short lines.
• Zig Zags.
• Circles, drawn forwards and backward.
• Up and overs.
• Down and unders. Down, back and unders.

This publication is mentioned in the Whole School Literacy Strategy on page 7.