On a warm summer day Luke was doing something children love to do.  He was drawing with paint and was talking to no one in particular.  The drawing and the talking were helping him generate and develop ideas for more details to draw in his picture.  Generating and developing ideas is what a writer does.  His drawing held his meaning and was his writing.  He was taking an important step in learning to write.  Luke was ready to see the ideas that were in his mind and drawn in his picture could also be written in printed language.  

We often hear our child say precious things.  This happens when they play, draw pictures, talk to us, or just talk to themselves.  These natural moments create opportunities to help our little one take a step as a writer and a reader.  Since their oral language is ahead of their ability to write independently, we can help capture the special ways they express themselves.  We can take the pen and write down their ideas for them.  We need only write a few of their words.  By doing this we demonstrate the power of learning to write, and we show them that what they think and say can be written and then can be read – by the child and by others.  We are planting the seeds of learning to write and to read as we go about our daily life with our child.