Pre-writing Activities With Fun Strokes Pre-Writing Program 

In the world of pediatric occupational therapy, finding the right tools to support pre-writing skills is crucial. Did you know that kids should master nine pre-writing strokes before starting to learn how to write letters? 

The 9 Pre-Writing Strokes include: |, —, O, +, /, square, \, X, and Δ. 

Fun Strokes is an engaging pre-writing program that uses magnets and worksheets to make learning pre-writing strokes fun! You can always find the Fun Strokes magnets in my Occupational Therapy bag. It’s a wonderful curriculum for pre-K teachers, special education teachers, or early elementary teachers who would like to teach pre-writing strokes and shapes. 

The Fun Strokes Program includes 11 durable magnets. This no-prep resource is perfect for pediatric occupational therapists who are on the go between schools or treatment rooms at a clinic. 

The magnets hold up session after session, making them a wonderful addition to any occupational therapy treatment room or clinic. This durability ensures that therapists have a reliable tool that can be used repeatedly without any prep work. 

The Fun Strokes Program allows you to grade up or grade down the pre-writing activity during your treatment session, creating the just-right challenge for your student. Using this program, I have watched so many of my students’ pre-writing skills blossom, and they are more confident with writing tools!

One way I use the Fun Strokes Program is to place the magnets on a vertical surface, which helps develop wrist extension, grip strength, and shoulder strength—key components for successful handwriting and overall strength. 

When children engage in activities on a vertical surface, such as a whiteboard or easel, their wrists naturally extend, which promotes the development of proper wrist positioning needed for an efficient pencil grip. This positioning helps strengthen the small muscles of the hand, improving grip strength and control. Additionally, vertical surface work requires the activation of the shoulder girdle muscles to stabilize the arm, fostering greater shoulder strength and endurance. 

Here are a few additional fun ideas for using Fun Strokes magnets to build pre-writing skills:

Try incorporating tongs and small manipulatives, like pom-poms or beads, to place onto each magnet. This will encourage the development of a tripod grasp while reinforcing pre-writing strokes.

Another creative idea is to use a baking pan, shaving cream, and finger paint to trace or draw missing pre-writing strokes onto each magnet, adding a sensory element that engages both tactile and visual senses. This multisensory approach not only makes learning fun but also helps reinforce memory and motor planning as children practice forming each stroke in new, exciting ways.

Fun Strokes is more than just a pre-writing program; it’s a comprehensive program that builds foundational skills for writing through engaging, hands-on activities. By incorporating magnets, worksheets, and vertical surface practice, this program offers a unique and effective way to develop fine motor skills, visual-motor integration, postural control, and much more. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or occupational therapist, Fun Strokes can be a valuable addition to your toolkit, providing children with the skills and confidence they need to become successful writers, all while having fun learning new skills!