Last Updated on August 5, 2024 by Sheryl Cooper
Inside: The preschool writing center is an important area of the classroom for exploring writing tools while also working on fine motor and literacy skills. Here are some of our favorite tips and activities!
Providing a writing center in the preschool classroom is a fun way to encourage young children to use writing tools.
This area can have a variety of materials that strengthen the hands and fingers, while also exposing children to the alphabet.
While some might be able to write some letters, or their names, others might be working on circles and lines.
Having an open-ended center allows children of different learning levels to explore in their own way.
Make sure to scroll down to find all the free printables, including our list of favorite writing center materials!
How to Set Up the Preschool Writing Center
The writing center is considered one of the quieter areas of the classroom.
I like to make sure there is a small table with at least 2 chairs, so that a couple of children can work at the same time.
(Sometimes our children will find another chair to make room for a 3rd child.)
This is also a good spot to keep journals, either on a shelf or in a basket.
There are a lot of fun materials that can be used in the writing center.
When choosing these materials, keep your pre-writers and your writers in mind.
Sometimes pre-writers are reluctant to sit and hold a writing utensil, especially if they are working on building those fine motor skills.
For this reason, I make sure to always have materials in this area that pre-writers will feel comfortable using. Some of the materials mentioned below are for those who have developed stronger fine motor skills. After observing your children, you can determine which will work best.
Also please note that this collection does include some materials with small pieces. If you are working with children who are still putting items in their mouths, do not include them.
Crayons and Markers
The free circle printables, shown above, can be found in our circle packet located in this post.
Stamps, Stickers and Stencils
Some Favorite Items
- Magnetic Lap Boards
- Dry Erase Lap Boards
- Magnetic Table Easel
- Magnetic Dry Erase/Chalkboard
- Colored Masking Tape
- Markers
- Crayons
- Colored Pencils
- Golf Pencils
Other Items
- Envelopes
- Blank cards
- Old mailing stamps
- Stapler
- Scotch tape
- Hole punch
More Favorites
Free Printable List
Download and print this pdf to save as a reference when purchasing supplies!
Free Printables to Put in Your Writing Center
Click on each photo below for the pdf download:
More Ways to Strengthen Fine Motor Skills
25 Easy Toddler Fine Motor Activities
Toddler and Preschool Activity Plans
Looking for an entire year’s worth of learning activities? We’ve done the work for you!
I have helped create each of these packets, along with a team of talented educators and homeschoolers.
Easy to follow activity plans include activity modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.
Every theme comes with recommended reading lists, songs, material lists, and more.
Click on the graphics below for more details.
Toddlers (18 – 36 months):
Preschool (3 – 5 Years):
FREE CIRCLE TIME PLANNER!
Get your FREE circle time planner as a gift when you subscribe to my free weekly newsletters.
Here is my Privacy Policy
such a great idea:))
innovative ideas .. photos are very impressive!
cool math 4 kids
I wish i could do something as lovely…my classroom is just over 1/2 the size of the area seen in that last picture…Everything in my room must be MULTI-purpose!!
I feel for you! At one time we had to put EVERYTHING away and it was so hard. Doable, but very hard. We share our space with the church’s Sunday School, but over the years they have really worked with us and we now share a lot of the furniture and toys. It’s made it much easier! As for space, I can’t imagine having half the space of ours. Perhaps this picture makes it look larger!