FM.F.119 IMITATES A PLUS SIGN
As well as extending the child’s imitative skills, this activity teaches one of the most basic writing skills – that of making a shape with 2 lines.
How to Assess
Materials: Thick Crayon and paper.
Method: Say ‘Look what I can draw. Draw a plus sign about 4 to 6 cm high. Give the crayon to your child, saying ‘You do it’. Give 3 tries.
Score plus if your child draws intersecting vertical and horizontal lines in 2 out of the 3 tries. Size does not matter.
How to Teach
If your child has been working through this sequence, he should have no difficulty imitating horizontal and vertical lines separately. Revise them now if necessary.
Begin teaching this skill by adding the verbal reminders ‘down’ and ‘across’. Remember to demonstrate each time. Continue until your child can imitate the figure with no reminders.
There are 2 main difficulties that occur in learning this skill. Some children have difficulty positioning their horizontal line so that it intersects the vertical line. You can help by pointing with your finger to the place where the horizontal line should start (to the left of the vertical line). Stop pointing when your child gets the idea. Other children sense that two lines are required, but draw vertical lines side by side. Guide your child’s hand to make a plus, over and over again, so that he gets the feel of the figure. Demonstrate frequently and give verbal reminders at the same time, gradually reducing first your physical and then your verbal help.
Playtime and Round-the-house Activities
Add plus figures to your own creations when you are drawing alongside your child at playtime. Encourage him to copy you, while still giving him plenty of scope to make other shapes.
Intersecting lines that occur around the house can be traced with the fingers, while you say ‘Look, this goes down and across’. Tiled walls and floors abound with pluses!
Remembering and Extending
This skill will be extended to copying a plus sign in FM.F.121. In the meantime maintain with practice.