I could not be a teacher!

My MIL got my almost 3 year old the coolest learning book. The first 10 pages are all following the dots to make a straight line to learn pencil control, and following direction. I let my son do the first page holding a pencil the way he wanted, then I tried to show him how to hold it the right way. He wasn't having it. Screaming No...ok whatever...we moved on. I explained to him a few times what he needed to do, even showed him. He connected the dots ONCE. Then just did his own thing scribbling on the page. I'm so frustrated. Are my expectations to high!? He is my first child. I just assumed he would think it would be fun connecting the dots, and that he could do it easy. I praise every teacher out there! The patience you all must have!! Out here doing the Lord's work! 😅😅

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I was a teacher for almost 10 years now I’m a stay at home mom and homeschooling my kids. My first born is now 4. I will tell you when they are your own kids your patience is tested lol. I def had more patience with my students. I have to remember just because they are my kids I shouldn’t be so hard on myself and them! But yes just continue to reinforce the way to do it. I bought my son these pencil holders that the pencil goes into and their little fingers hold in the correct position you can find on Amazon he’s been loving that. I also make sure we do 2 days of learning max 30 min. No need to do more than that!

Probably much too formal learning for him… let him enjoy mark making before correcting pencil grip, he won’t be ready for that. Explore making marks with fingers paints chalk in down etc. it will come in time (17 years an early years teacher) Let him learn to love writing first and drawing, and scribbling, and making any marks he wants to!

3 year olds haven’t always got the hand strength yet to hold a pencil correctly. Look up fine motor activities to develop pincer grip on google. Lots of fun games to play that will support him. Also climbing running balancing, large movements, he’s got to be able to control his big movements before finessing his tiny fine motor movements x

Totally normal for a 3 year old to not hold the pencil correctly! I have a 3 year old myself and have been a teacher for 16 years (every grade prek-3rd). Definitely just follow the child’s lead with anything “academic” at this point.

@Carla I was about to say this. Studies are showing kid’s hands aren’t ready to “properly” hold a pencil until around 5-6yrs old. I feel so bad for making my niece practice writing when she was 3. In retrospect, I should have just allowed her to scribble as she wished. 🥹

Thank you ladies! My son spends alot of cold rainy days drawing with markers, colored pencils, painting, etc. He also is REALLY good with a fork and spoon. 😅 I just assumed he should be able to follow dots better. Lol. I will chill out 😂

However I still do agree with you, us teachers do have to have a lot of patience 😂

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