Boys and Mark Making

A question I’m frequently asked when providing EYFS consultancy support is how to encourage and engage boys to write and mark make?

It is important that writing is seen to be something that all children should enjoy.  Your EYFS provision needs to be a place where all children are encouraged to mark make and all attempts at mark making should be engaging and valued.

Boys Development

The skills needed to undertake writing must be taken into account.  Especially the child development processes that are necessary to take place to enable children to hold writing tools.  In boys this process may take a little longer so it is important they have access and plenty of time for pre-writing activities.

Purposeful Learning Activities

Boys relate the best to learning when the activity has purpose or relevance to them.  Mark making activities that capture boy’s interests and preferred activities should be provided.

Enabling Learning Environments

Learning environments that support and encourage writing are vital.  There needs to be plenty of different opportunities for self-initiated learning activities which encourage boys to write.

Resources that encourage interest in writing should be planned for and used.  Boys enjoy using visual recourses.  These make a great addition to the learning environment and well as supporting mark making.

Phonic Development

All children need to be able to say and sound out words before they can write them.  Plenty of talking opportunities should be provided to encourage boys to talk about what they are doing, why they are doing it, what resources they are using etc.  Opportunities for the application of phonics is important especially in the outside learning area where boys will say and do more.

Adult Support

As well as valuing all mark making attempts adults can further support boys writing through providing running commentaries and talking about what the boys are learning.  Adults getting involved in all forms of mark making will also further encourage boys to take part in the learning.

For more ideas and ways of supporting boys in their mark making journey please get in touch.  I can provide lots of ideas for pre-mark making opportunities, developing the muscles and skills needed to write and ways to ensure boys will enjoy writing.