When should a child write his name?

My daughter's Montessori preschool has children who are developmentally all over the spectrum, especially when it comes to writing skills. One 2-year-old can barely speak, but can write his name and several words. A 5-year-old in the class can read quite fluently but can't write legibly. I was fascinated by how widely the skill of name-writing varied among students. Although I'm proud that my daughter can write her name at age 3, I talked to her teacher about when parents should expect this milestone.

Here are some facts worth knowing about the age at which a child learns to write his name.

1. Any age between 3 and 6 is normal.

Your child is expected to learn to write his name any time between his third and sixth birthdays. My daughter's preschool teacher says that, while most children learn to write their names before beginning "real" school, it is entirely acceptable for children to be unable to write legibly at the beginning of kindergarten. This milestone can take place at almost any point between toddlerhood and the school years.

2. About half of kids can write their names before age 4. A parents' poll on BabyCenterreveals that roughly 10% of kids can write their names before age 3, while roughly 40% learn to do so at age 3. This entirely supports my daughter's teacher's idea that it is a milestone reached by about half of children before age four. It's important, however, to note the demographics of both the poll and the students-- most are either in preschool or have significant parental involvement.

3. Three and a half is a good target-age to teach children to write their names. While some precocious children can learn far sooner, and while some may not be ready until much later, most kids are best introduced to name-writing at about three and a half years of age. According toBabyCenter, this is the age at which most children are able to write a few identifiable letters, especially those that are familiar to them.

4. Expect a little struggle. No child learns to write his name overnight. It will usually take about six months for the child to be able to write his name completely legibly. My own daughter has been writing her name for several months, but still writes the "N" as "M" half the time, and can't write the letters S and K. It's completely acceptable for a child to write his name poorly until kindergarten or later.

5. Work with your child. No kid learns to write his name automatically, without any adult influence. He needs to know not only how to spell his name, but also how to form the letters in it. If your child is in preschool, you can probably expect his teacher to handle this milestone. However, kids who are not in preschool may need a little nudge to help prepare them for name-writing in kindergarten.